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Southern Coast Tour: Invercargill to Dunedin
4.8
10 Ratings
Curio Bay
Explore New Zealand’s wild southern coast on a full-day tour from Invercargill to Dunedin. Discover ancient forests, rare wildlife, and stunning coastlines.
Explore New Zealand’s wild southern coast on a full-day tour from Invercargill to Dunedin. Discover ancient forests, rare wildlife, and stunning coastlines.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
-
Curio Bay - The first significant stop is Curio Bay, where visitors can walk across the fossilized remains of a 180-million-year-old petrified forest, visible during low tide. Look out for the rare yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho) and playful Hector’s dolphins in the surf.
Alternative stop: If the tides permit, Cathedral Caves may be visited. This…
- Curio Bay - The first significant stop is Curio Bay, where visitors can walk across the fossilized remains of a 180-million-year-old petrified forest, visible during low tide. Look out for the rare yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho) and playful Hector’s dolphins in the surf.
Alternative stop: If the tides permit, Cathedral Caves may be visited. This stunning pair of massive sea caverns is accessible via a short forest and beach walk (entry fee applies).
- Papatowai - A stop is made in the tranquil Catlins village of Papatowai for lunch (at own expense) and a visit to the delightfully quirky Lost Gypsy Caravan, a gallery of handmade kinetic art and curiosities that is sure to amuse and inspire.
- Purakaunui Falls Walk - Enjoy a short, easy walk through lush native bush to reach Purakaunui Falls, one of New Zealand’s most photographed waterfalls. This beautiful multi-tiered cascade is a peaceful highlight in the heart of the Catlins.
- Nugget Point Lighthouse - The journey continues to the dramatic Nugget Point Lighthouse, perched high above the ocean. Enjoy a short scenic walk to the viewpoint, where seals can be seen sunbathing on the rocks and seabirds soaring above the iconic “nugget” sea stacks below.
- Dunedin - The journey concludes in Dunedin with drop-offs at central accommodations. Rich in heritage and surrounded by natural beauty, Dunedin is a vibrant southern city and a perfect place to continue a South Island adventure.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup in Invercargill (select locations only)
- Space for luggage - 1 large & 1 small per person
- Small group experience (max 15 guests)
- Central hotel drop off in Dunedin
- Fully guided by local experts
- Hotel pickup in Invercargill (select locations only)
- Space for luggage - 1 large & 1 small per person
- Small group experience (max 15 guests)
- Central hotel drop off in Dunedin
- Fully guided by local experts
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Lunch
- Accommodation
Additional Information
Embark on an adventure along New Zealand’s untamed southern coast with a full-day journey from Invercargill to Dunedin. Explore the breathtaking Catlins region, where ancient woodlands meet striking shorelines. Be amazed by the fossilized forest at Curio Bay, spot rare wildlife, and explore the charming Lost Gypsy Caravan. Enjoy a leisurely stroll to…
Embark on an adventure along New Zealand’s untamed southern coast with a full-day journey from Invercargill to Dunedin. Explore the breathtaking Catlins region, where ancient woodlands meet striking shorelines. Be amazed by the fossilized forest at Curio Bay, spot rare wildlife, and explore the charming Lost Gypsy Caravan. Enjoy a leisurely stroll to the scenic Purakaunui Falls and admire the ocean vistas from the renowned Nugget Point Lighthouse. With knowledgeable guides and intimate group sizes, this tour offers a relaxed and engaging experience in one of the South Island’s best-kept secrets.
- Full-day one-way journey from Invercargill to Dunedin (approximately 9 hours)
- Intimate group setting with a maximum of 15 participants for personalized service
- Experienced local guides and a luxurious Mercedes-Benz vehicle provided
- Picturesque stops include Curio Bay, Nugget Point Lighthouse, and Purakaunui Falls
- Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. You can hire seats ($20NZD per seat) or you can provide your own
- Remaining hours will be allotted for the travel time
- Not recommended for travelers with severe mobility difficulties, a moderate amount of walking is involved.
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
Location
Curio Bay
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(10 Ratings)
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Cravingtheworld
Mar 25, 2026
Visit the stunning Catlins! - As I was the only person to book the day's tour, Jason, my guide, made sure I had a good time. He tried to spot as many animals as possible. We saw sea lions, seals, dolphins and lots of native birds. Jason was really friendly, funny and a great photographer ;) The Catlins are stunningly beautiful, and we experienced all that the coastline had to offer. The waterfalls and temperate rainforests leading to them were stunning, too! Thank you, Jason!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Navigator34595142629
Mar 11, 2026
Absolutely wonderful, exceeded my recommendations! - Jason was a fabulous tour guide, well informed and made the tour special for all of us. The weather was terrific and as a result, the whole day was a wonderful experience that I would highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janecm4141vt
Jan 25, 2026
Beyond Professional – A Truly Heartwarming Journey in Southland! - I was lucky enough to travel with Jase twice in Southland. He is an exceptional driver-guide who truly puts his heart into his work.
Jase’s kindness is remarkable. I saw him personally escorting elderly passengers to the hotel reception, ensuring they were fully settled before he left. His sense of responsibility is deeply touching.
He is incredibly passionate and flexible. Jase loves discussing the best routes to ensure his passengers get the ultimate experience, and he even added extra stops when time allowed. He also proactively takes photos for everyone, ensuring we leave with beautiful memories.
It’s clear Jase loves what he does and always puts people first. If you’re looking for a reliable, professional, and warm-hearted guide in Southland, Jase is the best!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_m
Jan 5, 2026
The Best Way is to efficiently see more NZ is to do a one-way! - This offering changed my trip planning in a great way and allowed me to be more aggressive and ambitious in what ground I could cover. Originally, I wanted to see the South Island and major cities like Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown, but I wasn't sure how I'd get to see all the little things in between without hiring a car.
By offering a one-way trip between Invercargill and Dunedin, I could add that leg to my trip (i.e., fly to Invercargill) and count on the transfer to Dunedin while getting to see cool things along the way, like waterfalls, the petrified forest, the southern most point, and my favorite, the Nugget Point Lighthouse, which is a truly great spot that made this trip overwhelmingly worth it for me.
And it won't be a great tour with out a great tour guide in Jason who made sure to give each stop its appropriate time and introduction, while managing expectations appropriately throughout the day.
Cheeky Kiwi is on to something with these one-way tours (I think they currently only ones to offer such a thing) and they seem to have great people on the front end (tour guides) and back end (back office team was communicative and helpful at every step to coordinate logistics) to make it work. Looking forward to doing something like this again!
Review provided by Viator
Trail10185609872
Dec 12, 2025
Rugged, beautiful and wild. - An expertly-guided, fun-filled adventure of the majestic Caitlin’s. Highlights were McLean Falls and Nugget Point.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tall_girl27
Nov 28, 2025
Amazing Day Trip from Dunedin to Invercargil - Our guide, Jason drove us from Dunedin to Invercargill with so many amazing sightseeing stops along the way. He is truly passionate about his job, shares great stories, and always gives his best. We felt very well taken care of throughout the trip. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
140ronaldj
Nov 3, 2025
Captivating Catlins - The appeal was the one way tour which gave more time to explore without the need to return by the same route. Ending the tour at a different town enabled me to see more of the country
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Getaway59016577421
Mar 30, 2026
Amazing... - We enjoyed our trip. Jason is a great tour guide, and we look forward to another trip with him next year.
From: Radhika and Parag Mehta
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christine_s
Feb 20, 2026
Great trip through the Caitlins - Some beautiful and breathtaking views along the route. Unfortunately not much wildlife seen, only seals. Great lunch stop fab burger! Jason was a Friendly and very helpful guide
Review provided by Viator
