Cathedral Caves Walk
Waipati Beach Scenic Reserve
Your Nature Guide
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
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Information
Cathedral Caves Walk
approx 2 km return | 45 minutes return
The Catlins is an undiscovered gem, although the sealing of the Southern Scenic Route and comprehensive signposting has done much to open up the region to tourists. Summed up, the Catlins is where forest meets beach. Throw in frequent encounters with wildlife, numerous waterfalls, a pioneering history and local charm that is sadly lost in many other parts of New Zealand.
Cathedral Caves is a shining example of these qualities.
Walking Track
Timing
The caves are open between late October and May. Sometimes spring tides can delay the opening by a few weeks.
If conditions are deemed unsafe or tidal conditions are unfavourable the gate will be closed.
Access is limited to 2 hours before low tide and one hour after low tide.
Access is also limited between 7.30 am and 8.30 pm.
Visit https://www.cathedralcaves.co.nz/ for tide times.
Access is through private land. We have been informed there is now a $5 Koha (Maori for donation or gift) requested.
Access
Cathedral Caves are well signposted from the Southern Scenic Route between Chaslands and Papatowai. Signs are visible from both directions and show when the low tide is and what time the gate opens and closes. Follow the unsealed access road 2 km to the parking area with toilets at the start of the track
Track
The well-constructed track descends steadily through the fern filled forest to the beach. Head left and round the first headland to the largest cave. The huge cavernous opening is framed by striking colours of the rock and vegetation and retreats to blackness at the rear. Closer inspection by entering the cave however, shows the initial cave also links up with a smaller, but equally impressive cave exiting at the far side of the headland.
When sea conditions are calm, it is also possible to explore a set of caves around the next headland. Although slightly smaller they retreat nearly 150 metres into the cliff and narrow to only a body width wide. Little blue penguins are known to inhabit the furthest recesses of the cave.
On the way back, the sweeping vistas of Waipati Beach are impressive, the sand almost luminescent in the muted light of the cloud-filled sky.
Geology
Caves such as this are formed by the erosive power of the waves exploiting and enlarging weaknesses in the rock. The immense pressure of the waves striking the rock is enough to steadily wear away and denude the rock structure. Over time the caves will eventually grow until the rock above becomes unstable and collapses, forming offshore stacks.
Honeycomb weathering is visible on the splash zone above the high tide mark. When sea spray soaks into the rocks, they become saturated with salt, which on drying, enlarges the salt crystals levering the sand grains apart. Wind then dislodges the grains and eddies to form the hollows. The honeycomb pattern is best exhibited on overhangs, where the face is protected from the rainfall.
Flora
Hebes and flax colonise the cliff faces.
Fauna
The zonation of aquatic animals forms a striking strata on the rocks. Each animal is particularly evolved to its band in the sequence, limits determined by tolerance to exposure at the upper end and ability to compete with food lower down. Barnacles and mussels encrust the rocks and an algal film complements the rich hues of rock perfectly.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC OtagoCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Papatowai |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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3.0/5
The campsite told me to go and see the caves and bring $ for entrance.
I don't know what they do with the $5 per person because the road to the carpark is full of big holes. When I arrived the lady told me to pay and that high tie was coming quickly but I can see the caves before the water was too high.
When I get to the caves the waves were very high because of the wind and it was too dangerous to go in the coves. Not worth the $5, didn't have the right advice and you have to pay to see the nature?!
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5.0/5
Access to the parking open 1.5 to 2 hours before low tide and closes 2 hours after low tide.
We walked to the beautiful beach and walked inside the huge caves, impressive. Access $5.
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4.0/5
Had a nice hour or so exploring these caves.
After a quick walk down to the beach we paddled in the water and walked through the caves. Spectacular caves and beach.
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5.0/5
Impressive sea caves you can walk through at extremely low tide.
Easy 30 minute walk, plan 1 hour return. The tides change daily so check online for when you can visit, usually only a two hours gap each day.
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4.5/5
For such a beautiful place I thought it was poorly signposted to since there was a timing element (2 hours either side of low tide).
I did not see any warnings about it in the local advertising.
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4.5/5
$5 fee was awesome value for such a beautiful walk and stunning caves.
A real highlight.
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4.5/5
A steep walk down through the bush to a huge and beautiful beach.
The caves were amazing. The only negative thing was the sandflies on the beach.
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5.0/5
Stunning, we arrived an hour before low tide and were able to wade up and into the caves.
Explored the main caves as well as some smaller ones down the coast. A must see in the South!
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3.5/5
You have to pay money to walk the track.
But when the weather is good it is worth it. Look up the tide timetable (you can just go there when it is low tide). You are walking down through a forest about 30 minutes to a really beautiful beach. Walk along the beach for about 10 minutes to the caves, watch out for the ocean when you are walking through the caves, it can come abruptly. Worth the money and the walk - really amazing trip!
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0.5/5
Visitors should beware that the caves are shut in winter.
There is nothing online or printed to indicate this. In fact the DoC website says that during their winter hours (May-October) they are only open weekends and school holidays, but having just tried to visit in the school holidays we can say this is not true and locals confirmed it. Huge disappointment if you have travelled all this way (as we did) and then got stuck there (snowed in) only to find that they are not open at all. Venture Southland should try to exert some pressure on the Kai Tahu owners to manage this attraction in a more tourist-friendly way. No wonder visitors get so cross! Feel sorry for the other businesses who cop all the flak from disgruntled tourists.
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5.0/5
Access to the parking open 1.5 to 2 hours before low tide and closes 2 hours after low tide.
We walked to the beautiful beach and walked inside the huge caves, impressive. Access $5.
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4.5/5
$5 fee was awesome value for such a beautiful walk and stunning caves.
A real highlight.
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4.5/5
For such a beautiful place I thought it was poorly signposted to since there was a timing element (2 hours either side of low tide).
I did not see any warnings about it in the local advertising.
-
5.0/5
Impressive sea caves you can walk through at extremely low tide.
Easy 30 minute walk, plan 1 hour return. The tides change daily so check online for when you can visit, usually only a two hours gap each day.
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4.0/5
Had a nice hour or so exploring these caves.
After a quick walk down to the beach we paddled in the water and walked through the caves. Spectacular caves and beach.
-
3.0/5
The campsite told me to go and see the caves and bring $ for entrance.
I don't know what they do with the $5 per person because the road to the carpark is full of big holes. When I arrived the lady told me to pay and that high tie was coming quickly but I can see the caves before the water was too high.
When I get to the caves the waves were very high because of the wind and it was too dangerous to go in the coves. Not worth the $5, didn't have the right advice and you have to pay to see the nature?!
-
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5.0/5
Stunning, we arrived an hour before low tide and were able to wade up and into the caves.
Explored the main caves as well as some smaller ones down the coast. A must see in the South!
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4.5/5
A steep walk down through the bush to a huge and beautiful beach.
The caves were amazing. The only negative thing was the sandflies on the beach.
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3.5/5
You have to pay money to walk the track.
But when the weather is good it is worth it. Look up the tide timetable (you can just go there when it is low tide). You are walking down through a forest about 30 minutes to a really beautiful beach. Walk along the beach for about 10 minutes to the caves, watch out for the ocean when you are walking through the caves, it can come abruptly. Worth the money and the walk - really amazing trip!
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3.5/5
A great short walk at low tide enables you to walk through this magnificent sea arch.
A must visit.
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3.5/5
Nice big caves on the beach.
Had to walk through kneehigh water to get to the end of the cave. Nice to see but stupid that we have to pay $5 per person to see some nature on the beach. Make sure to walk past the first one because there are like 4 more!
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0.5/5
Visitors should beware that the caves are shut in winter.
There is nothing online or printed to indicate this. In fact the DoC website says that during their winter hours (May-October) they are only open weekends and school holidays, but having just tried to visit in the school holidays we can say this is not true and locals confirmed it. Huge disappointment if you have travelled all this way (as we did) and then got stuck there (snowed in) only to find that they are not open at all. Venture Southland should try to exert some pressure on the Kai Tahu owners to manage this attraction in a more tourist-friendly way. No wonder visitors get so cross! Feel sorry for the other businesses who cop all the flak from disgruntled tourists.
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1.5/5
Caves are nice but it is private so you have to pay.
Also we saw penguins nesting in the cave - it has to be stressful there - flashing cameras, torches. I did not see nothing that prohibited this.
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3.0/5
Caves were beautiful but we had to pay $5 just because the access is through private property, if I compare it with other nature beauties which are not paid this cannot have 10 points.
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4.5/5
Nice adventure in a beautiful landscape and surrounding.
$5 totally worth it! Would have been a 10 if it would not have been so crowded.
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4.5/5
$5 to walk down to see some pretty spectacular caves at low-tide-donation would have been preferable.
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3.5/5
Excellent natural tourist spot.Not keen on paying to see something naturally occurring only $5, but a donation request would be preferable.
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4.5/5
Great experience, we went around 10am (it is only open in low tide) and for $5pp it is a 15 min walk to the wide beach and the caves - when we came back to the car park an hour later there was a queue
so probably best to get in first thing
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4.0/5
Make sure to check the tides.
And even then there is a chance that it will be cancelled due to weather-conditions. When we were there we could enter, but we would have to get knee-deep in the water. So of course that's what we did :).
Nice experience! Beautiful big beach, with several caves. Make sure to get to the second one too, even if that one is a secret ;)
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4.5/5
Great walk into fabulous beach should have taken togs.
Needs last 20 ft drop re-making.
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4.0/5
Very impressive caves, nice walk through bushes and over the beach.
But beware of wet feet!
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5.0/5
$5 each.
Beautiful caves on beautiful beach. Well worth the price. Trail well maintained to get to beach.
