The Catlins

The Catlins has a vast range of easily accessible scenic attractions. They include beautiful natural scenery, such as rivers, waterfalls, lakes, caves, forests, beaches and other wonders. The Purakaunui Falls are a cascading multi-tiered waterfall on the Purakaunui River. A picture of beauty, and even though Purakaunui means 'big heap of firewood' in Maori, this is a magnificent waterfall that cascades 20m over three distinct tiers. A 10 minute forest walk leads to this stunning location in a small reserve of mixed podocarp and beech forest. Other waterfalls are McLean Falls and Matai Falls.

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.

A 20m bush and beach walk leads to Cathedral Caves, accessible only at low tide. Rising more than 30m in places, the grand caves resonate with the sound of the sea.

Explore the Catlins and discover this hidden paradise, in an unspoilt corner of the world.