I always feel so privileged to live in such a stunning country. From where I am in Dunedin it’s only a few minutes to a beach, and only a couple of hours to lakes, beaches, mountains, forests and caves. I love nothing more than getting to get out and explore New Zealand, and I’ve been enjoying visiting a lot of the attractions that are relatively local to me. So me and a friend jumped in the car and headed down to the Catlins to explore the Cathedral Caves.
Cathedral Caves has been on my to-do list for years, and crazily enough even though I lived in the Catlins for a while, I never ever went here! It’s such a beautiful spot and I highly recommend it to anyone doing a Lower South or Catlins adventure! The caves are made from Jurassic sandstone which is over 160 million years old. Over tens of thousands of years, the waves have eroded the cliff to create a huge cathedral like caves.
Cathedral Caves is about a 30 minute drive south of Owaka, through the Southern Scenic Route. It’s a really pretty drive, although windy, and it takes you through native forest and there’s some stunning beach views and scenic photo opportunities. When you get to the turn off, it’s a sharp left turn up the hill and on to the road to the caves. This road is super narrow and has heaps of potholes, so I wouldn’t recommend taking a new or lowered car down this track! When we went it was a bit wet on the road so I popped it into 4WD for a bit more traction. It’s super narrow too so going slow is key! When you get to the end of the road, there’s a huge carpark as well as a toll booth where you can pay your $10 entry fee (or $5 for kids).
It’s then a 20 minute walk downhill through a beautiful bush track. The native bush is so peaceful and relaxing to walk through, and there’s a lot of beautiful photo opportunities! When you get to the bottom it’s a few minutes across the beach to the caves.
There are two entrances to the caves and they are both connected at the back, so you can walk in one and out the other. It’s quite dark in the back, as the caves go 200 metres into the cliff, so it’s best to take a torch! At some of the highest points they are 30 metres tall.
Since they are tidal caves, you can only access the Cathedral Caves at low tide and a few hours either side (check their website for the daily tidal times). It’s best to get there just before low tide so you can enjoy the caves for as long as possible, before beginning your trek back up the hill. We met a few people in the carpark who had been turned back for getting there too late, as the tide was beginning to come in, so ensure you do your tide research first!
I also recommend taking comfy shoes to walk in up and down the bush track, as well as a torch, camera and some bug repellant. We got eaten alive by sandflies so either cover up or grab some repellant spray!
Cathedral Caves in the Catlins is well worth going to! It’s an incredibly beautiful spot and such a fun adventure. The track is quite steep in places, so it wouldn’t be suitable for those with limited mobility or pushchairs/buggies. I also don’t think I’d take a small child who is walking, as it’s a bit of a climb back up the hill! For more info, make sure you check out the official website.