The Catlins Coast
With rugged cliffs on one side and farmland on the other, Purakanui Bay is typical of the beaches you’ll find on the Catlins coast south of Dunedin. Over millions of years, wave action and wind erosion have created just about every coastal landform imaginable. Fur seals, sea lions and penguins are very much at home on this coast. Photographer: Rob Brown (robbrownnz@yahoo.com).
Nugget Point is one of the most spectaular points on the coastline.
Catlins Forest
The Catlins Forest contains Silver Beech, Matai, Rimu, Totara and Kahikatea trees. Some of the steeper river valleys were never logged and so represent importnat collections of native forest.
Wildlife highlights: New Zealand fur seals and sealions are often seen, and Southern elephant seals are occasional visitors.
Yellow-eyed Penguin, mollymawks, Australasian Gannets, herons, stilts, godwits and oystercatchers are all resident, and bitterns and the threatened Fernbird can be seen in the estuaries.
Yellowhead and kakariki (New Zealand parakeet), tui, fantail, and kererû (New Zealand pigeon) can be seen in the forests.
Long-tailed bats and several species of lizard are also found locally.
Hector's Dolphins can often be seen close to the Catlins coast, especially at Porpoise Bay near Waikawa.
Location: Along the coast south of Dunedin.
These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.
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