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Catlins Adventure: Explore New Zealand's Coast
5.0
10 Ratings
Ahuriri Flat
Discover New Zealand’s southern coast on a small-group tour from Dunedin to Te Anau, exploring the Catlins’ natural wonders and rare wildlife.
Discover New Zealand’s southern coast on a small-group tour from Dunedin to Te Anau, exploring the Catlins’ natural wonders and rare wildlife.
Duration:
11 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Nugget Point Lighthouse - A brief stroll leads to the breathtaking Nugget Point Lighthouse, situated above the rugged sea stacks known as “The Nuggets.” Be on the lookout for seals basking on the rocks and seabirds gliding over the ocean below.
- Purakaunui Falls - An easy forest walk takes you to this magnificent multi-tiered waterfall, one of…
- Nugget Point Lighthouse - A brief stroll leads to the breathtaking Nugget Point Lighthouse, situated above the rugged sea stacks known as “The Nuggets.” Be on the lookout for seals basking on the rocks and seabirds gliding over the ocean below.
- Purakaunui Falls - An easy forest walk takes you to this magnificent multi-tiered waterfall, one of the most photographed in the country—and for good reason.
- Papatowai - Enjoy a stop in the tranquil Catlins village of Papatowai for lunch and explore the delightfully quirky Lost Gypsy Caravan, a unique gallery of kinetic art and curiosities that will surely ignite your imagination.
- Curio Bay - At Curio Bay, travel back in time as you walk across the remnants of a 180-million-year-old petrified forest (visible at low tide). You might also spot endangered yellow-eyed penguins or Hector’s dolphins nearby.
Alternative: If tides permit, a visit to the Cathedral Caves may be possible. These impressive sea caverns are accessible via a short forest and beach walk (entry fee applies).
- Invercargill - A brief stop in Invercargill provides an opportunity to stretch your legs and grab a quick snack before continuing the journey.
What's Included
- Space for luggage - 1 large & 1 small per person
- Lunch stop in Papatowai (food available for purchase)
- Hotel drop off in Te Anau (select locations only)
- Fully guided small group tour by local experts
- Hotel pickup in Dunedin (select locations only)
- Water and snacks provided
- Space for luggage - 1 large & 1 small per person
- Lunch stop in Papatowai (food available for purchase)
- Hotel drop off in Te Anau (select locations only)
- Fully guided small group tour by local experts
- Hotel pickup in Dunedin (select locations only)
- Water and snacks provided
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Lunch
- Accommodation
Additional Information
Embark on an unforgettable journey along New Zealand’s breathtaking southern coast with a full-day excursion from Dunedin to Te Anau, where the untamed beauty of the Catlins awaits. Discover natural marvels such as the renowned Nugget Point Lighthouse, admire the charming Purakaunui Falls, and enjoy a unique lunch break at the Lost Gypsy Caravan. Stroll…
Embark on an unforgettable journey along New Zealand’s breathtaking southern coast with a full-day excursion from Dunedin to Te Anau, where the untamed beauty of the Catlins awaits. Discover natural marvels such as the renowned Nugget Point Lighthouse, admire the charming Purakaunui Falls, and enjoy a unique lunch break at the Lost Gypsy Caravan. Stroll across the ancient petrified forest at Curio Bay and watch for rare wildlife like the yellow-eyed penguins. This small-group tour, led by knowledgeable local guides, promises a personalized experience rich in storytelling and comfort.
- Enjoy a scenic drive through the pristine Catlins region
- Explore Nugget Point Lighthouse and Purakaunui Falls
- Delight in a quirky art experience during lunch at Papatowai
- Intimate experience with a small group size (maximum 15 guests)
- 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.
- Remaining hours will be allotted for the travel time
Location
Nugget Point Lighthouse
The Nuggets Rd
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
(10 Ratings)
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1 star
Boblin27
Mar 3, 2026
Long tour but GREAT DAY - I really enjoyed this tour. Our guide/driver was Jason who made the day extra special with his lively and informative commentary along the way. He even made things that I wasn't really looking forward to (ie The Petrified Forrest) really interesting which now makes me want to learn a bit more about it. He started the day as a good and professional tour guide but by the end of the day we parted feeling more like friends - even though we did give him a bit of cheek along the way but that goes with the name on the bus. Would definitely book another tour if I make it over here again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharminis2026
Feb 16, 2026
Excellent tour of the Catlins with tour guide and driver Jason - Having a scenic drive from Dunedin to Te Anau was excellent. It was the first time in the Catlins for us. It was a lot of driving so it was nice to sit back and enjoy.
My husband and I have a wonderful tour with Jason. We were fortunate to be the only couple on the tour up until Invercargill. It helped that it was a beautiful still day too. Jason looked after us well, explaining lots of things along the way and he was also great company. Jason took us to see the main sights and a few others as Cathedral Caves was unavailable. We enjoyed the addition of Slope Point.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenniferkg8667qs
Feb 12, 2026
Beautiful panoramic route with fantastic guide - Highly recommended! Beautiful panoramic route along the south coast to fantastic viewpoints. Jason makes this tour a great, unforgettable experience. His knowledge, commitment, kindness, flexibility are extraordinary. He knows how to fulfill the wishes and ideas of the participants, has many tips for the region. Be sure to book!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenniferkg8667qs
Feb 12, 2026
fantastic experience - Highly recommended! Jason is great, very well prepared, flexible, and provides a lot of information and tips. He makes sure that it's a fantastic experience. His driving style is impeccable, the bus is new, and snacks and drinks are also available. Definitely book, it's great!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Majkenw2026
Jan 29, 2026
Great tour - Great tour with a lot of beautiful views and stops. Jason was an amazing driver/guide with so much passion for his job. He made sure that everyone was comfortable and that we got the best tour possible.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ali_norb37
Jan 24, 2026
Great experience - Great excursion very interesting!! Jason was a great driver, very nice who explained everything to us, it was exciting, very good alternative to visit the catlins and get to Te Anau! I highly recommend this activity I had a great day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trek17171439932
Jan 12, 2026
Experience the South Island's untouched and wild beauty with a passionate tour guide - I had an absolutely lovely time with Jason who shared his love for his country with me during this amazing full-day trip. We spotted sea lions and fur seals, had a nice hike to a beautiful waterfall, saw stunning landscapes and simply had a fun and relaxing time.
I happened to be the only passenger that day, but given the maximum size of around 11 seats in the van, you are guaranteed a small group size and a trip tailored to your needs, even on a fully-booked day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ray
Dec 16, 2025
Great tour and connect Dunedin and Te Anau in a day - 很有效率很方便地從Dunedin移動到Te Anau 路上的景點也都很不錯。Jason幫我們找到了很多野生動物並且提供了景點的介紹，也介紹了沿途的景致風光。一天內包含觀光和移動到下個點實在很棒，甚至我還可以參加Te Anau晚上的螢火蟲洞tour和隔天的米佛峽灣tour 對非自駕是很有效率的移動方式
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Teapot39
Nov 6, 2025
Awesome - Ask for Jason - This was the best day I have spent in New Zealand in the 3 weeks I have been here. This is a new trip in its infancy and I was the only person on it but it wasn’t cancelled. My driver Jason was so knowledgeable and entertaining. The waterfall on the schedule was inaccessible because of fallen trees but Jason took me to a different one, in fact two very close together. When he knew that my only reason for wanting to go to Invercargill was to go further south than I had been before he went one better and took me to Slope Point which is the most southerly spot on the South Island. I hope that the company can incorporate this into future trips because it really did tick a box. All the other stops were just as memorable with lots of photo opportunities. There would have been many more I’m sure apart from the awful weather. 11 hours went by so quickly. I thoroughly recommend this trip and if you have a choice of dates ask for Jason.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Go65266688607
Aug 13, 2025
Fantastic Trip - Amazing trip, the tour guide was so informative and made the trip so enjoyable. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking to explore a remote and lesser known area of the South Island.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
