Catlins Coast Waterfalls, Walks and Caves
The Catlins offer a wide range of stunning natural attractions, including cascading waterfalls, beautiful forest walks and vast imposing caves.
The Catlins are divided into South Catlins in the Southland region and North Catlins in the Otago region of New Zealand.
Purakaunui Falls
Catlins Coast, Southland
The Purakaunui Falls are a picture of beauty, located in the Catlins in the Southland region of New Zealand.
Surrounded by bush, the magnificent Purakaunui Falls cascade 20 metres over three distinct tiers.
A 10-minute forest walk will take you to this stunning location. The track through mature beech forest, and then beech and podocarp, is suitable for wheelchair users to the top viewing platform. The track then descends to the waterfall.
Other waterfalls are McLean Falls and Matai Falls.
Lake Wilkie
Lake Wilkie is located on the Southern Scenic Route at Tautuku.
At Lake Wilkie you can see the succession of forest development from lake edge to mature forest finishing at the reflection lake.
During summer the red brilliance of flowering rata is stunning.
This walk is wheelchair accessible.
Catlins Coast, Southland
Cathedral Caves
The Cathedral Caves are located just off the Southern Scenic Route, at the northern end of Waipati beach, south of Tautuku.
The Cathedral Caves Walk is a pleasant 20-minute bush and beach walk, leading you to Cathedral Caves.
Rising more than 30 metres in places, the caves resonate with the sound of the sea. They are all at once imposing, grand and reverent.
The caves are accessible only for an hour either side of low tide.
» Southland Regional Information
» South Catlins Travel Directory
