Otago Peninsula & The Catlins
Beyond the city's environs lie two unspoilt wilderness areas, the Otago Peninsula and the Catlins. These regions are rich in bird and wildlife, including gannets, albatross, sea lions and the rare Hector's dolphin.
Otago Peninsula
- Royal Albatross Colony & Centre
Taiaroa Head is home to the world's only mainland albatross colony. Guided tours include a presentation of an albatross life, a visit to a nature reserve viewing area and the historic Fort Taiaroa.
- Monarch Wildlife Cruises
Dunedin's well-known wildlife cruise provides opportunities to view Royal Albatross, penguins, seals and shags.
The CatlinsThis beautiful wilderness area encompasses forests, rivers and dramatic coastline and is richly endowed with wildlife including Hector's dolphins, Hooker's sea lions, fur seals and yellow-eyed penguins. Native birds include bellbirds, gannets, fantails, herons, oystercatchers, tui and yellowheads.
Walks
- Cathedral Caves
A 20 minute bush and beach walk to a group of five high-vaulted limestone caverns, which can only be entered at low tide. The caves, gouged out by the sea from the cliffs of Waipati Beach, rise to 30 metres in places. The closest caves extend underground almost 100 metres, and there are three less visited caves around the headland.
- Curio Bay
Located 20 kilometres southeast of Tokanui, this forest of fossilised tree-trunks, some with their root systems intact, extends about 13 kilometres down the coast. The 160 million-year-old forest dates back to the Middle Jurassic Age and is only visible at low tide. Over time, silica has replaced the wood of the trees, leaving them resistant to erosion. Tree trunks range from 15-30 metres long and are thought to be related to the kauri, a modern New Zealand native, and the Norfolk Island pine.
- Nugget Point
Located 4 kilometres south of Nugget Bay, this rocky 11 kilometre long headland is a breeding area for gannets, sooty shearwaters, shags and yellow-eyed penguins. Fur seals and sea lions also gather below the historic lighthouse, built in 1869. The point is named after the cluster of rocks scattered about its base, referred to by early whalers as 'The Nuggets'.
- Purakaunui Falls
This 20 metre waterfall descends over three broad terraces. The falls are set in beech forest about 19 kilometres southeast of Nugget Point.
- Slope Point
The most southern point of the South Island, famous for its windswept landscape and spectacular cliffs. The point, located 14 kilometres southeast of Takanui, was named in 1870 by an early settler, J. O'Brien.
- Waipapa Point
A historic lighthouse and the scene of one of New Zealand's worst shipping disasters - the wreck of the Tararua on 29 April, 1881. Of the 151 people onboard, 131 were drowned. The lighthouse was built shortly after.