Catlins Coastal Heritage Trail

The Catlins Coastal Heritage Trail is a 70 km journey through the Catlins, a stunning but remote region of Southland, known for its rugged coastline and native wildlife. Linking thirteen heritage sites between Niagara (near Dunedin) and Fortrose (near Invercargill), this trail rewards the curious traveller, demonstrating exactly why history is the stuff of small, everyday events, rather than the pivotal moments outlined in most textbooks.

There’s the Fortrose Cemetery, the first European cemetery in the South Catlins and the burial place of Captain James Wybrow – a former convict and renowned whaler – in 1873. It was the children of Fortrose School who raised the funds for his headstone. Or the Old Coach Road, once an ancient Māori trail that was 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 total experience. 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).