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Catlins Adventure: Explore New Zealand's Wild Side
5.0
13 Ratings
Invercargill
Explore the Catlins’ wild beauty on a small group tour from Te Anau to Dunedin. Discover seascapes, ancient forests, and rare wildlife. Book now!
Explore the Catlins’ wild beauty on a small group tour from Te Anau to Dunedin. Discover seascapes, ancient forests, and rare wildlife. Book now!
Duration:
11 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Invercargill - A brief visit to Invercargill provides an opportunity to stretch your legs or join/disembark the tour. Guests from the city can start or conclude their journey here at around 9:00 AM.
- Curio Bay - Explore the fossilized remains of a 180-million-year-old petrified forest at Curio Bay (visible at low tide). Look out for…
- Invercargill - A brief visit to Invercargill provides an opportunity to stretch your legs or join/disembark the tour. Guests from the city can start or conclude their journey here at around 9:00 AM.
- Curio Bay - Explore the fossilized remains of a 180-million-year-old petrified forest at Curio Bay (visible at low tide). Look out for yellow-eyed penguins and Hector’s dolphins that often visit the shoreline.
Alternative: If tides permit, a visit to the breathtaking Cathedral Caves may be possible—towering sea caverns accessible via a scenic walk (entry fee applies).
- Papatowai - We pause in the tranquil Catlins village of Papatowai for lunch and an opportunity to explore the unique Lost Gypsy Caravan, a whimsical gallery of kinetic art, curiosities, and handmade wonders that always delight.
- Purakaunui Falls Walk - Enjoy a short, easy walk through lush native forest to reach one of New Zealand’s most photographed waterfalls—Purakaunui Falls. Its tiered cascade offers a serene and picturesque stop.
- Nugget Point Lighthouse - A gentle coastal walk takes us to the iconic Nugget Point Lighthouse, where panoramic views and dramatic sea stacks await. Observe fur seals, seabirds, and the raw power of the Southern Ocean from this stunning lookout.
- Dunedin - Our journey concludes in Dunedin with drop-offs at your central accommodation. Known for its Scottish heritage, vibrant student life, and stunning architecture, Dunedin is a wonderful place to end your southern adventure—or begin the next one.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup in Te Anau (select locations)
- Hotel drop off in Dunedin (central locations)
- Space for 1 large & 1 small luggage per person
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Hotel pickup in Te Anau (select locations)
- Hotel drop off in Dunedin (central locations)
- Space for 1 large & 1 small luggage per person
- Bottled water
- Snacks
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Lunch
- Accommodation
Additional Information
Embark on a journey through the stunning landscapes of the Catlins with this full-day, one-way small group tour from Te Anau to Dunedin. Revel in the striking coastal views, ancient woodlands, and unique wildlife as you discover one of New Zealand’s pristine areas. Enjoy guided narratives, picturesque stops, and a leisurely pace throughout the trip….
Embark on a journey through the stunning landscapes of the Catlins with this full-day, one-way small group tour from Te Anau to Dunedin. Revel in the striking coastal views, ancient woodlands, and unique wildlife as you discover one of New Zealand’s pristine areas. Enjoy guided narratives, picturesque stops, and a leisurely pace throughout the trip. Highlights include the fossilized forest at Curio Bay, a charming lunch break at the Lost Gypsy Caravan, and awe-inspiring vistas at Nugget Point Lighthouse. With a limit of 15 participants, this tour provides a personal experience in a luxurious Mercedes-Benz vehicle.
- Intimate group setting with up to 15 participants
- Guided visits to Curio Bay, Purakaunui Falls, and Nugget Point
- Lunch break at Papatowai, featuring a stop at the Lost Gypsy Caravan
- Includes refreshments, snacks, and drop-off at your Dunedin accommodation
- Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. You can hire seats ($20NZD per seat) or you can provide your own
- Not recommended for travelers with severe mobility difficulties, a moderate amount of walking is involved.
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
- Remaining hours will be allotted for the travel time between locations
Location
Invercargill
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(13 Ratings)
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Eileent920
Mar 14, 2026
The Catlins are a Hidden Gem! - I had no idea what to expect from this trip, having done basically no research on the Catlins or Dunedin before heading out. But I knew the minute I met Jason that he would make the day memorable. He is an amazing guide and driver, explaining so much about New Zealand, its culture, landscape and wildlife. His passion for this less-traveled area of the country is infectious. We saw beautiful waterfalls, ate great food and had a front row seat watching a pair of sea lions frolicking on the beach - an experience I will never forget. At the end of the day Jason was even able to squeeze in a stop in Dunedin to show us the steepest street in the world. I would highly recommend this tour, not just as a way to get from the west to the east coasts of the South Island, but for the road less traveled experience you will have along the way. If (when) I go back to New Zealand, I will spend more time in the Catlins.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Charlottewp5443oq
Mar 11, 2026
Tour from Te Anua to Dunedin - I had the best experience on the tour. Our tour guide Jason was very nice and took great care of me. Also Jason gave me the encouragement to get too Nugget Point Lighthouse, my favorite spot and so very beautiful 😍 All of the places we stopped at were the best.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Natalie_k
Feb 23, 2026
Good trip - This trip was a good opportunity to see the southern coast of the South Island, including the lesser known Catlins park area, and our guide Jason was great. If I had known about these one-way Cheeky Kiwi tours earlier, I would have ONLY traveled around NZ this way. Highly recommended
Review provided by Viator
Flyer30999613467
Feb 6, 2026
Highly recommend - This was an amazing day tour and everything was perfectly arranged. A big thank you to our guide Jason — he was professional, friendly, and made the whole trip smooth and enjoyable. The itinerary was well planned and very fulfilling without feeling rushed.
We were lucky enough to see sea lions and seals up close, and the waterfall was stunning. The scenery along the way was also beautiful.
Highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jolieng2026
Feb 4, 2026
Great day - Had an awesome day going from Te Anau to Dunedin. Jason is easy going and knowledgeable. He can read the room and adapt to the needs of the group that day. It was perfect for me and I’ve ended up seeing a lot of highlights.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tour09427752859
Feb 3, 2026
Amazing!! - I can't recommend this experience enough! Despite the rainy weather, Jason made sure that it was still an unforgettable experience. He was very accommodating and shared plenty of insights and local history along the way. I would happily book this tour again ☺️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chloeroche25
Feb 3, 2026
Because Jase is the best guide I ever had - Jase is the best guide ever ! The place were wonderful even with the rain ( this is New Zealand ) and they were magical because of Jase ! He explain all the stories about every place, show you his favorite spots. The experience was unforgettable as you can see Jase is a passionate ! You love do it this and it make this day so amazing ! Thank you again Jase as I didn't expected to fall in love for this part of coast even under the rain !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F9850yrtomh
Feb 1, 2026
Thank you Jason - While the sights and stories along this tour are outstanding, Jason the guide made this an absolute top highlight of our trip to New Zealand. We have talked about our experience on this trip every day since and will remember this day for the rest of our lives. His excitement about the wildlife/ scenery we were seeing was palpable and you could tell how much he genuinely loves his job! He was so accommodating throughout the day, even adding in an extra stop for a lookout or whatever he felt would make the day better for us, like a nice pie lunch stop. By the end of the day, it felt like we were just friends exploring the coast together. Would recommend this tour to anyone traveling in NZ!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Babs8118
Dec 26, 2025
The perfect way to get around New Zealand - Great guide - very knowledgeable and willing to cater the trip to those of us on the tour. It's a wonderful way to get from one place to another with sightseeing along the way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Low
Dec 17, 2025
Beautiful trip, comfortable ride and professional guide - Best leg of the trip so far. Te Anau to Dunedin. Professional guide and driver, very smooth drive, comfortable minivan. Highly recommended our tour guide Jasen, his many years of tourism experience, shared with us fun stories about NZ and efforts of describing the landscape and animals we see along the way, we're so lucky to have him. And fortunate that we found this new route that's only a few weeks old (started in November 2025)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
