Otago · Moderate · 2-3 days

The Catlins Coast

Waterfalls, wild coast & ancient forest

5.3 km walking196 km driving2 days8 stops

Best for Families, Photography.

Dogs on this trip. Every walk on this route sits on DOC or reserve land where dogs are welcome. Jack's Blowhole crosses private farmland and is commonly closed during spring lambing (roughly Aug-Oct), so check the gate signage and give stock a wide berth. Mind the unfenced clifftops at Jack's Blowhole and Purakaunui Bay, keep well clear of fur seals, sea lions and nesting hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) that haul out on Catlins beaches, and check the DOC website for current 1080 and bait-station pest-control alerts before you go. The only fully fenced place they can run anywhere near is Elles Road Dog Park back in Invercargill.

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Day 1

Waterfall Wonders

1
Elles Road Dog Park
Fully fenced run
Fully fenced off-lead run in Invercargill - stretch the dog's legs and stock up before the remote drive east into the Catlins.
~100 km drive
2
Mclean Falls Walk
Dogs allowed1.6 km · Moderate · 0.5–1 hr
Stunning 22m falls through podocarp forest (40 min return).
~3 km drive
3
Matai and Horseshoe Falls
Dogs allowed1.1 km · Moderate · about 22 min
Two pretty falls on an easy loop (30 min return).
~25 km drive
4
Purakaunui Falls Track
Dogs allowed0.8 km · Easy · about 12 min
NZ's most photographed waterfall - arrive early (20 min return).
~11 km drive
5
Papatowai Campsite
Dogs allowed
Seaside DOC camp among the trees - your base for the waterfall day.
~25 km drive to Day 2

Day 2

Coastal Exploration

1
Jacks Blowhole Walking Track
Dogs allowed1.5 km · Easy · 25m
200m-deep collapsed sea cave reached across coastal farmland (1 hr return).
~12 km drive
2
Tunnel Hill Track
Dogs allowed0.3 km · Easy · about 6 min
Old railway tunnel with glowworms - bring a torch (30 min return).
~20 km drive
3
Purakaunui Bay Campsite
Dogs allowed
Wild surf-beach DOC camp under the cliffs - falls asleep to the sound of the sea.

Banks’ tip. Stock up in Balclutha or Invercargill - the Catlins is remote. Many walks are short but spread out.

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