Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
Author Marios Gavalas, Rankers and hundreds of contributors bring you a free web map to help you get lost (and find yourself) in Aotearoa's nature.
Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Hebes and flax colonise the cliff faces.
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.
Feature | Value | Info |
---|---|---|
Organisation |
DOC OtagoCentral government organisation |
|
Location |
South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Papatowai |
|
Categories |
|
|
Directions To Coordinates |
||
Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
---|---|---|
Track Length |
|
Track LengthWhat is the physical length of this track? 1km to 3km |
Track Duration |
|
Track DurationHow long does it take to walk this track on average? 30 mins to 1 hour |
Track Difficulty |
|
Track DifficultyConsidering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easy walk |
Payment Requirement |
|
Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Large Vehicle Access |
|
Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. |
DOC Track Category |
|
DOC Track CategoryWhat type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Walking track Easy to moderate walking from a few minutes to a day. Track is mostly well formed, some sections may be steep, rough or muddy. Suitable for people with low to moderate fitness and abilities. Clearly signposted. Stream and river crossings are bridged. Walking shoes or light tramping/hiking boots required. |
Campsite Managing Organisation |
|
Campsite Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this campsite? Private Public Partnership (PPP) This experience is managed via a Private Public Partnership. A Māori land trust, Tautuku Block X Section 3C Trust, was set up in 1996 to manage the block and look after the interests of its 216 registered beneficial owners. The 443.3 ha block includes the Cathedral Caves. |
Disabled Access |
|
Disabled AccessDoes this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs. |
Crowd Factor |
|
Crowd FactorHow crowded is this place usually? Some people This place usually draws a average amount of people. You won’t have difficulties to move along, but you won’t have this place to yourself, either. |
Track Managing Organisation |
|
Track Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. |
Caves were ok but access is not free.
$5 each.
Had a nice hour or so exploring these caves.
Beautiful landscape!
You have to pay money to walk the track.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
---|---|---|---|
10/10 | 8 |
|
19% |
9/10 | 11 |
|
26% |
8/10 | 10 |
|
23% |
7/10 | 6 |
|
14% |
6/10 | 3 |
|
7% |
5/10 | 1 |
|
2% |
4/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
3/10 | 3 |
|
7% |
2/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
1/10 | 1 |
|
2% |
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?!
Reviewed over 7 years ago
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.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
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.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
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.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
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.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
4.0/5
Beautiful shorter walk, gorgeous beach and the caves were very impressive.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
4.5/5
$5 fee was awesome value for such a beautiful walk and stunning caves.
A real highlight.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
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.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.5/5
Beautiful landscape!
Totally worth it!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
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!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
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!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
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.
Reviewed over 9 years ago
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.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.0/5
Beautiful shorter walk, gorgeous beach and the caves were very impressive.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
4.5/5
$5 fee was awesome value for such a beautiful walk and stunning caves.
A real highlight.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
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.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
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.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
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.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
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?!
Reviewed over 7 years ago
4.5/5
Beautiful landscape!
Totally worth it!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
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!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
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.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
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!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
3.5/5
A great short walk at low tide enables you to walk through this magnificent sea arch.
A must visit.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
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!
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
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.
Reviewed over 9 years ago
2.5/5
Caves were ok but access is not free.
Now have to pay $5 per person to walk to beach!
Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
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.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
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.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
1.5/5
Too expensive for the caves.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
4.0/5
Nice look on the beach and an amazing cave.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
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.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
4.5/5
$5 to walk down to see some pretty spectacular caves at low-tide-donation would have been preferable.
Reviewed almost 11 years ago and experienced in December 2013
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.
Reviewed almost 11 years ago and experienced in December 2013
1.5/5
Nice short walk but the caves are nothing special.
Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013
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
Reviewed over 11 years ago
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 ;)
Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in December 2012
5.0/5
Private land - excellent track, great scenery and well priced $5 per adult.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
4.5/5
Great walk into fabulous beach should have taken togs.
Needs last 20 ft drop re-making.
Reviewed over 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011
4.0/5
Very impressive caves, nice walk through bushes and over the beach.
But beware of wet feet!
Reviewed over 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011
5.0/5
$5 each.
Beautiful caves on beautiful beach. Well worth the price. Trail well maintained to get to beach.
Reviewed over 13 years ago