THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Journey through New Zealand’s dramatic Catlins coast with Catch-a-Bus South’s flexible, guided day tour. Experience iconic lighthouses, waterfalls, and unique wildlife all tailored to the tides.
Journey through New Zealand’s dramatic Catlins coast with Catch-a-Bus South’s flexible, guided day tour. Experience iconic lighthouses, waterfalls, and unique wildlife all tailored to the tides.
Book with Catch-a-Bus South
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Catch-a-Bus South · Makarewa, Southland
The Catlins, located along New Zealand’s rugged southeastern coastline, is a region where wild landscapes meet the Pacific Ocean in dramatic fashion. Catch-a-Bus South offers a day-long guided tour that cuts through this untamed stretch, delivering visitors a firsthand encounter with waterfalls, lighthouses, and rare wildlife—all tailored around the tides for maximum impact.
Starting near Invercargill, the journey navigates winding coastal roads with stops at landmarks like Waipapa Point Lighthouse, famed for its historic role in maritime safety, and Nugget Point Lighthouse, standing guard over jagged offshore islets known as the Nuggets. These rocky outcrops create ideal habitats for seals, penguins, and seabirds, anchoring the region’s ecological diversity.
The Catlins Day Tour showcases the area’s distinct geological features, from ancient petrified forests to moss-draped native bush. You’ll visit waterfalls such as Purakaunui and McLean Falls, where torrents spill over layered sandstone, carving the forest floor over centuries. Lake Wilkie offers a peaceful contrast, surrounded by dense podocarp trees and totara that thrive in wet, cool conditions.
This tour stands out not only because of its flexible, tide-dependent itinerary, but also its commitment to sustainable travel and local knowledge. The team at Catch-a-Bus South, based in Makarewa, blends expert guides with small group sizes, allowing for intimate experiences that respect the environment and support community initiatives.
For adventurers aiming to venture beyond New Zealand’s typical hotspots, this day tour reveals lesser-known natural treasures without sacrificing comfort or accessibility. Whether it’s spotting elusive yellow-eyed penguins or feeling the sea spray at the Nuggets, visitors depart with a deeper appreciation of the Catlins’ raw, coastal wilderness and the people dedicated to preserving it.
easy.
8–10 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels; the tour involves mostly seated travel with short walks at stops.
No, meals are not included. There are a couple of food breaks, but it’s recommended to bring your own snacks.
Yes, the tour is family-friendly with mostly easy walking segments, but please check with the operator for specific age recommendations.
Yes, but this must be arranged in advance and may incur an additional fee as it usually becomes a private tour.
The itinerary is flexible and may be adjusted for weather conditions to ensure safety and maximize experience.
No, some locations are tide-dependent and seasonal, so not all can be visited on every tour.
Groups are small, typically starting at 4 people, to maintain a personal and engaging experience.
Waipapa Point Lighthouse was built in 1884 following a tragic shipwreck, marking a pivotal point in New Zealand’s coastal safety history.
Catch-a-Bus South emphasizes responsible tourism by limiting group sizes and supporting local conservation efforts around sensitive wildlife habitats.
Catch-a-Bus South is a regional transport and tour operator serving Southland, Otago and the Queenstown-Lakes district. The business specialises in tailored charter services for groups of up to 11 passengers and offers scheduled and door-to-door transfers linking Bluff, Invercargill, Te Anau, Queenstown and Dunedin. Catch-a-Bus South operates a range of trip types: private charters, VIP transfers, short scenic connections (such as Bluff–Invercargill and Invercargill–Bluff), and longer regional transfers between Invercargill, Te Anau and Queenstown. The operator also runs guided day tours including the Bluff Half Day Tour, The Catlins Day Tour and the Southern Catlins Shore Excursion, and provides specialised cycle transport for Milford Sound departures. Service details and constraints are stated clearly: some services exclude certain local stops (for example, Queenstown transfers do not serve Arrowtown or Arthurs Point and require flights to arrive by 1pm), and some routes have specific bike policies (Dunedin to Invercargill bus-stop-to-bus-stop service is not available for bikes). Catch-a-Bus South is featured on The Adventure Collective and presents clear pick-up options, mid-trip stops and charter flexibility that suit travellers heading to Stewart Island, Fiordland walks and regional attractions. All service descriptions, destination links and booking instructions are provided up front to help passengers plan seamless regional journeys.
Book with Catch-a-Bus South