The Catlins

About the Catlins

The Catlins sit on the South Island's southeastern coast, along the slower coastal route between Dunedin and Invercargill rather than the faster inland highway — which is exactly why most self-drive itineraries bypass it. Nugget Point's lighthouse, perched above a scatter of rock stacks ("the Nuggets") that give it its name, looks out over water where New Zealand fur seals, sea lions, and elephant seals are regularly seen. Purakaunui Falls, a tiered waterfall over mossy rock reached by an easy short walk, is one of the most photographed falls in the South Island precisely because it's so accessible.

Cathedral Caves, a pair of large sea caves accessible only at low tide (and only during specific opening months), and regular sightings of yellow-eyed penguins — among the world's rarest penguin species — along the coast round out a region that trades big-name fame for a genuinely wilder, quieter feel.

Freedom camping here

Clutha and Southland District Councils manage the Catlins' freedom-camping zones; given the region's low visitor numbers relative to the rest of the South Island, spots here are generally easier to find and less contested than further north, though facilities and fuel stops are correspondingly sparse — this is a self-sufficiency-first region.

Good to know

• Cathedral Caves are only open seasonally (roughly October–May) and only around low tide — check both before planning a visit.
• Wildlife viewing (seals, sea lions, penguins) should always keep a respectful distance; approaching too closely disturbs breeding and resting animals.
• The coastal route through the Catlins is slower than the inland highway — budget a full day rather than treating it as a quick detour.