Towns

Owaka

The largest town in the Catlins area, Owaka was established by pioneers in the late 1800s. The town was originally called Catlins River, then Quakerfield. Nearby attractions include the beautiful Purakaunui Falls; Pounawea, a great place for bird watching; the fur seal colony at Nugget Point; Jack’s Blowhole, where a large sea cave has collapsed to leave a deep ocean-filled hole in the middle of a field; and the sea lions of Cannibal Bay. Owaka has a doctor, pharmacy, grocer, internet café, craft shops and a variety of places to stay. The Catlins Historical Museum in Burns Street focuses on family life in southland over the last 100 years. Functional facts: Approx. population 400, information centre, essential shops and services.