Catlins Coastal Heritage Trail

The Catlins Coastal Heritage Trail is a stunning 70-km journey through one of New Zealand's most remote and rugged landscapes. Linking thirteen heritage sites between Niagara and Fortrose, this trail rewards the curious traveller, demonstrating exactly why history is forged in the quiet, everyday lives of a community rather the pivotal moments outlined in textbooks.

The stories told on the trail are deeply personal. At the Fortrose Cemetery, the region's first European cemetery, lies Captain James Wybrow – a former convict turned whaler. His headstone stands as a testament to the local community, having been funded by local school children in 1873. Nearby, the Old Coach Road traces an ancient Māori trail later adopted by European goldminers in the 1860s. And then there’s natural history, who follows a course of her own. At Curio Bay, explore one of the world’s finest fossilised forests, where imprints of trees and ferns date back to the Jurassic period, 180 million years ago.

To fully appreciate all the sites, including the short walks, allow at least five hours for the journey. Food stops are available at Fortrose, Slope Point, Curio Bay, Waikawa, and Niagara.

Getting there

• The Catlins Coastal Heritage Trail is a detour off the Southern Scenic Route, which runs between Dunedin and Te Anau. 
• The trail is a series of walks and places of interest linked by easy drives. Find a car rental company here.
• You need to allow at least five hours (one-way) to visit all the places of interest and complete all the walks.

Need to know

For more information, download this Catlins Coastal Heritage Trail brochure(opens in new window).