Walking

ActivitiesLand ActivitiesWalking

Southland

Raw Coast, Short Walks, Big Payoff

Walking in Southland is less about long multi-day tramps and more about short, punchy tracks that drop you into some seriously wild coastline. The Catlins is where most of the good stuff is. McLean Falls and Purakanui Falls are my picks from the waterfall trio in the area - both are around 20-30 minutes through beautiful native bush, and even better after a bit of rain. Keep Maitai Falls off your list unless conditions are exceptional.

Edge of the Earth Stuff

The coastal walks here have a raw, windswept quality you don't get many other places. Nugget Point Lighthouse is a stunner - steep rocky outcrops, open Pacific, fur seals and sea lions if you're lucky. Slope Point, the actual southern tip of the South Island, is exposed and a bit bleak in the best way. Waipapa Point Lighthouse is worth a stop too, especially if sea lions are hanging about on the beach below. And if you're up for it, the walk between Cannibal Bay and Surat Bay puts you among some of the biggest, most prehistoric-looking sea lions in the country.

Come with sturdy footwear and a decent jacket. This coast doesn't mess around with the wind.

49 items with the highest ranking score first, showing page 1 of 2.

The old lighthouse at Waipapa

South IslandSouthland

4.9 6 reviews

1 km return | 20 minutes return

Stirling point

South IslandSouthland

4.9 2 reviews

6.2 km return | 2 hours return

South IslandSouthland

4.8 22 reviews

Slope Point is the southernmost point of the South Island of New Zealand

South IslandSouthland

4.8 1 review

Time: 40 min – I hr return depending on walk taken

The "nuggets" at Nugget Point

South IslandSouthland

4.7 116 reviews

500 m return | 10 - 20 minutes return

Monkey Island

South IslandSouthland

Monkey Island, Orepuki

Overnight Campervan Parking and Walk

4.7 84 reviews

Freedom campers are allowed to stay for up to 28 days per calendar year. Monkey Island can be reached by foot at a low tide, and offers good...

Purakaunui Falls

South IslandSouthland

4.6 44 reviews

1 km return | 20 minutes return

McLean Falls - pretty primo

South IslandSouthland

4.6 42 reviews

1.5 km return | 40 minutes return

South IslandSouthland

4.5 4 reviews

Time: 15 minutes return

Cannibal bay

South IslandSouthland

4.5 2 reviews

Time: 5 hr return

Nugget Point / Tokata

South IslandSouthland

Nugget Point / Tokata

Roaring Bay Penguin Hide and Walk

4.4 5 reviews

500 m return | 20 minutes return

South IslandSouthland

Whisky Creek Track

Croydon Bush Scenic Reserve

4.4 2 reviews

Time: 2 hours (loop track) plus a 30-45 minutes side track

South IslandSouthland

4.4 1 review

Time: 45 minute round trip

Tuatuku Beach

South IslandSouthland

4.4 1 review

Time: 15 - 30 min return depending on walk taken

Camping NZ App Icon

Camping NZ App

All the great camping sites on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.

Download from the App Store Download Android app on Google Play

South IslandSouthland

Cathedral Caves Walk

Waipati Beach Scenic Reserve

4.2 43 reviews

approx 2 km return | 45 minutes return

Waiting for the big one!

South IslandSouthland

4.1 16 reviews

3 km return | 1 hour return

South IslandSouthland

4.1 11 reviews

Time: 5 hrs one way, Distance: 8km

South IslandSouthland

Teal Bay to South Coast Route

Fiordland National Park

4 1 review

Time: 10 hrs, Distance: 17 kms one way

Port Craig Wharf

South IslandSouthland

4 1 review

Time: 10 - 13 hrs, Distance: 33 km (one way)

South IslandSouthland

4 1 review

Time: 10 - 40 min return depending on walk taken

South IslandSouthland

4 1 review

600 m return | 10 minutes return

Matai falls

South IslandSouthland

3.9 5 reviews

1 km return | 30 minutes return

South IslandSouthland

3.9 3 reviews

Time: 30 minutes return

South IslandSouthland

The Old Coach Road

Tahakopa Bay

3.8 1 review

2 km return | 40 minutes return

South IslandSouthland

Time: 1 hr return

South IslandSouthland

Time: 4 hr return

South IslandSouthland

Dolamore Track

Croydon Bush Scenic Reserve

3 km return | 1 hour return

South IslandSouthland

Time: 7 hours return

South IslandSouthland

Hidden Valley route

Croydon Bush Scenic Reserve

Time: 2 hour loop track

Time: 1 hr 30 min - 6 hrs depending on route taken