The Catlins Coast - Solitude in the Southeast

Heading towards Dunedin, we drove along the Catlins Coast, a very remote and pristine area with lots of rainforest and a rugged coastline. There is hardly any infrastructure here, so make sure to fill up with gas and pack provisions. Since it often rains here, and rain was forecasted, we rented a cabin for 2 days at the only campground in the area.

That turned out to be a smart move, as it rained frequently... just a bit of sunshine, followed by pouring rain. Consequently, the sky looked quite funny at times, with blue sky in one direction and gloomy clouds in the other.

You visit the Catlins to enjoy the mostly protected landscape, which is considered a national park. We went on a hike to the truly impressive McLean Falls in the middle of the rainforest, where the brown-colored water masses from the rain-saturated soil cascaded loudly into the valley. Equally impressive is the Cathedral Cave, which can only be reached via a sandy beach during low tide. The cave has two entrances, with their passages converging further inside, giving you the feeling of being in a tunnel.

Continuing our journey north, we also visited Nugget Point with its stubby lighthouse, which can be reached via a short walk from the parking lot. The nuggets are rocks that lie in the sea in front of a headland, exposed to the rough waves. They are a spectacular sight and also the home of seals and sea lions, which we were able to see (though only from a distance) from the hiking trail.