Welcome to Cathedral Caves

Catlins, South Otago, South Island, New Zealand

 

Situated just off the Southern Scenic Route, Catlins, New Zealand at the northern end of Waipati beach, south of Tautuku.

From the car park at the end of the 2km access road (an old logging road) there is a pleasant 20 minute walk through natural podocarp and kamahi forest, over a metalled track leading down to a 10 minute walk along Waipati beach.  At the south end of Waipati beach is Chaslands Head, the historic Catlins site of the shipwreck of The Otago.

 

  • The access gate to Cathedral caves is opened and closed approximately 2 hours before and after low tide depending on daily sea conditions. 

  • Access is not available before 7.30 am or after 8.30pm.

  •  In the event of either unsafe access or tidal conditions the access gate will remain closed in the interest of public safety.

  • A road /track user fee is charged to maintain and upgrade the facilities most of which are on privately owned land administered by the Tautuku Block X Section 3C Trust.

Freak waves can occur even at low tide. 

                                                                            

Low Tide Times 2009

February

March

April

May

1

S

1322

1

S

1212

1

W

1342

1

F

1337

2

M

1413

2

M

1259

2

T

1447

2

S

1442

3

T

1512

3

T

1353

3

F

1557

3

S

1546

4

W

1620

4

W

1456

4

S

1705

4

M

1645

5

T

1730

5

T

1607

5

S

*1707

5

T

1739

6

F

1836

6

F

1718

6

M

1802

6

W

1829

7

S

1936

7

S

1823

7

T

1852

7

T

1916

8

S

2031

8

S

1921

8

W

1939

8

F

2000

9

M

0858   2112

9

M

2013

9

T

0759   2024

9

S

0819

10

T

0946

10

T

0837    2102

10

F

0843

10

S

0901

11

W

1033

11

W

0924

11

S

0925

11

M

0942

12

T

1119

12

T

1008

12

S

1007

12

T

1024

13

F

1205

13

F

1052

13

M

1050

13

W

1107

14

S

1252

14

S

1135

14

T

1134

14

T

1151

15

S

1341

15

S

1220

15

W

1222

15

F

1238

16

M

1435

16

M

1306  

16

T

1315

16

S

1328

17

T

1535

17

T

1357

17

F

1413

17

S

1420

18

W

1640

18

W

1454

18

S

1513

18

M

1513

19

T

1742

19

T

1559

19

S

1608

19

T

1606

20

F

1835

20

F

1702

20

M

1657

20

W

1658

21

S

1921

21

S

1757

21

T

1742

21

T

1748

22

S

2002

22

S

1844

22

W

1826

22

F

1838

23

M

2040

23

M

1926

23

T

1910

23

S

1928

24

T

0900     2117

24

T

2005

24

F

1954

24

S

2019

25

W

0935

25

W

0825   2044

25

S

2039

25

M

0841

26

T

1011

26

T

0902

26

S

0859

26

T

0933

27

F

1049

27

F

0941

27

M

0947

27

W

1026

28

S

1128

28

S

1022

28

T

1038

28

T

1122

 

 

 

29

S

1105

29

W

1133

29

F

1220

 

 

 

30

M

1152

30

T

1233

30

S

1320

 

 

 

31

T

1244

 

 

 

31

S

1421

 

                             Low Tide Times 2008 - 2009           

October

November

December

January

1

W

10.26am

1

S

11.16am

1

M

11.31am

1

T

12.23pm

2

T

11.06am

2

S

11.55am

2

T

12.10pm

2

F

1.05pm

3

F

11.45am

3

M

12.36pm

3

W

12.52pm

3

S

1.51pm

4

S

12.24am

4

T

1.21pm

4

T

1.37pm

4

S

2.42pm

5

S

1.07pm

5

W

2.12pm

5

F

2.26pm

5

M

3.40pm

6

M

1.56pm

6

T

3.09pm

6

S

3.20pm

6

T

4.43pm

7

T

2.54pm

7

F

4.08pm

7

S

4.18pm

7

W

5.47pm

8

W

4.00pm

8

S

5.05pm

8

M

5.16pm

8

T

6.50pm

9

T

5.02pm

9

S

5.57pm

9

T

6.14pm

9

F

7.49pm

10

F

5.55pm

10

M

6.47pm

10

W

7.10pm

10

S

8.21am8.45pm

11

S

6.41pm

11

T

7.36pm

11

T

8.04pm

11

S

9.14am

12

S

7.25pm

12

W

8.03am

12

F

8.30am8.58pm

12

M

10.06am

13

M

7.47am

13

T

8.53am

13

S

9.28am

13

T

10.55am

14

T

8.31am

14

F

9.46am

14

S

10.21am

14

W

11.45am

15

W

9.16am

15

S

10.35am

15

M

11.13am

15

T

12.34pm

16

T

10.02am

16

S

11.27am

16

T

12.06pm

16

F

1.25pm

17

F

10.50am

17

M

12.22pm

17

W

1.00pm

17

S

2.18pm

18

S

11.40am

18

T

1.20pm

18

T

1.55pm

18

S

3.14pm

19

S

12.34pm

19

W

2.21pm

19

F

2.53pm

19

M

4.14pm

20

M

1.33pm

20

T

3.24pm

20

S

3.52pm

20

T

5.15pm

21

T

2.39pm

21

F

4.27pm

21

S

4.51pm

21

W

6.13pm

22

W

3.48pm

22

S

5.25pm

22

M

5.48pm

22

T

7.04pm

23

T

4.54pm

23

S

6.18pm

23

T

6.40pm

23

F

7.50pm

24

F

5.53pm

24

M

7.06pm

24

W

7.28pm

24

S

8.15am8.31pm

25

S

6.45pm

25

T

7.51pm

25

T

8.12pm

25

S

8.54am9.10pm

26

S

7.32pm

26

W

8.16am8.33pm

26

F

8.37am8.53pm

26

M

9.31am

27

M

7.57am8.15pm

27

T

8.58am9.14pm

27

S

9.17am

27

T

10.05am

28

T

8.40am

28

F

9.37am

28

S

9.55am

28

W

10.40am

29

W

9.21am

29

S

10.16am

29

M

10.31am

29

T

11.17am

30

T

10am

30

S

10.53am

30

T

11.07am

30

F

11.55am

31

F

10.38am

 

 

 

31

W

11.44am

31

S

12.36pm

 
 

DISCLAIMER

 

The Trust at all times attempts to keep the public informed as to safety issues relating to Waipati Beach/Cathedral Caves however, as local weather and sea conditions can change rapidly the public are warned that they need to be aware of and are personally responsible for their immediate personal safety at all times. 

 

Accordingly the Trust takes no responsibility for any personal injury or  property damaged whilst on the foreshore (beach).

 

The Trust accepts no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information contained in these tables which are intended as a guide only.

 

 Cathedral Caves is not open on Christmas Day.

 

 

The caves can only be accessed at low tide. 

 


Please ensure you refer to the tide charts.

Pictured above are the first and second caves which join.  This allows you to enter one and exit through the other as you choose.  The inside ceiling of the first cave reaches 30 metres in sections - making it a great place to test out your singing voice.  Remember to look up as you enter and see the definite cathedral shape. Cathedral Caves, Catlins, South Island, New Zealand.

The varied colours and rock formations surround you - as you explore these natural wonders.  Cathedral Caves, Catlins, South Island, New Zealand.

A torch can enhance your viewing inside the caves.  If you have a torch - bring it with you.   Cathedral Caves, Catlins, South Island, New Zealand.

Waipati Beach from inside the cave.  Chaslands Head in the distance. Cathedral Caves, Catlins, South Island, New Zealand.

Low Tide at Cathedral Caves.  Cathedral Caves, Catlins, South Island, New Zealand.

 

Links

www.newzealandnz.co.nz

 

Additional Photographs,


Cathedral Caves,


Catlins, New Zealand