The Catlins

A wild coastline in the southeast corner of the South Island, with Nugget Point Lighthouse, forest waterfalls and a petrified forest, plus yellow-eyed penguins, sea lions and dolphins.

The Catlins lie in the southeast corner of New Zealand's South Island, straddling the Otago and Southland regions. Stretching about 100 km of coastline from Kaka Point in the north to Waipapa Point in the south, it is the wildest stretch of the Southern Scenic Route. The area is sparsely populated, with native rainforest reaching right down to the sea, and is known for its waterfalls, sea caves, lighthouses and wildlife: New Zealand sea lions, fur seals, endangered yellow-eyed penguins and Hector's dolphins, the world's smallest. The area falls into three sections. The north centres on Nugget Point Lighthouse, the sea lions of Surat Bay and Cannibal Bay, and Jack's Blowhole; the middle features forest waterfalls such as Purakaunui, Matai and McLean Falls, plus Florence Hill Lookout and the Cathedral Caves; the south has the Curio Bay petrified forest, Porpoise Bay and Slope Point, the southernmost tip of the South Island. The best season is Nov–Apr; the Cathedral Caves are open only from about late October to May, depending on the tides. It's windy and wet year-round and cold in winter, so bring a windproof, waterproof jacket. Getting around is mainly by car: Kaka Point is about 1.5 hours from Dunedin, and Waipapa Point about 1 hour from Invercargill, so the whole route makes a scenic drive between the two cities. Allow 2 days, based in Owaka in the middle or Porpoise Bay in the south. Petrol stations and supermarkets are scarce, so stock up in Owaka; some roads are gravel, and watch for livestock and wildlife at night. Keep at least 10 m away from wildlife.

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