Road Trip Through The Catlins NZ

The Catlins is a lesser known region on New Zealand’s South Island. We absolutely loved exploring this area on a weekend road trip. It is filled with so much unspoiled beauty.

McLean Falls was our first stop. The 40-minute trail to the falls alone was spectacular. I would recommend going in the morning to catch the sun filtering through the trees.

We arrived at McLean falls and were blown away by the sheer size and beauty.

We next headed over to the Cathedral Caves. This is one of the largest sea caves in the world. It can only be accessed at low tide, so be sure to check the times before you go.

The Purakaunui Falls were our next stop. These are the one of the most photographed falls in all of New Zealand.

Nugget Point was one of my favorite stops. This beautiful lighthouse sits on the rugged cliffs overlooking the rocky islets below that resemble nuggets of gold.

We saw fur seals playing in the pools and you can often spot yellow-eyed penguins here as well.

We stopped at Purakaunui Bay, which happens to be the filming location for Cair Paravel on Narnia’s The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

We visited Curio Bay at low tide where we could see the remains of a Jurassic era petrified forest that has been uncovered by the ocean.

This is also a nesting ground for the adorable Yellow-eyed Penguins.

Slope Point was our last stop. It is located at the southern most tip of the island where the harsh arctic winds twist and bend the trees so that they grow at an angle. It is such a cool phenomenon and a great ending to our road trip!