Catlins Southern Scenic Route — Balclutha toInvercargill.
Distance
210 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
600 m
Catlins Southern Scenic Route — Balclutha to Invercargill.
The Southern Scenic Route through the Catlins traces the wildest stretch of New Zealand southeastern coast. Yellow-eyed penguins, sea lions, petrified Jurassic forests, and macrocarpa trees bent horizontal by the Southern Ocean wind. Roads are paved with sparse traffic, and short detours to lighthouses, waterfalls, and tucked-away beaches reward the riders who slow down. The least-trafficked corner of the South Island.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance210 km
Days1
Total climb600 m
DifficultyEasy
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The route.
BalcluthaStart · Start in Balclutha at the mouth of the Clutha River — NZ second-longest river by length. Head south on the Southern Scenic Route into the Catlins.
Nugget Point LighthousePhoto Spot · Cliff-top lighthouse from 1870 over rocky islets called the Nuggets. Sea lion and fur seal haul-outs visible below. Roaring Bay yellow-eyed penguin colony is a 5 min walk and best at dawn or dusk.
OwakaRestaurant · Largest town in the Catlins. Information centre, cafes, and last reliable fuel stop before heading west along the coast.
PapatowaiScenic Point · Tiny settlement at the mouth of the Tahakopa River. Cathedral Caves on Waipati Beach are accessible only at low tide — check tide tables before adding the 15 km detour.
Curio BayPhoto Spot · 180-million-year-old petrified Jurassic forest exposed at low tide — one of only three accessible fossil forests on Earth. Yellow-eyed penguins come ashore at dusk.
Slope PointScenic Point · Southernmost point of the South Island, closer to the South Pole than to the equator. Wind-sculpted macrocarpa trees grow horizontally toward the north — the visual signature of the Catlins.
InvercargillEnd · End in Invercargill, NZ southernmost city. Wide grid streets and Victorian architecture feel startlingly orderly after the wild Catlins coast. Famous for E. Hayes hardware store and the Burt Munro Indian motorcycle.
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