The Cathedral Caves are spectacularly imposing rock structures, wave- carved from soft sandstone. These grand recesses rise up more than 30 metres in some places and hide shy blue penguins or large-eyed fur seals in their cool darkness.Stop by Curio Bay to see a 180 million year old forest, an ancient geological phenomenon of petrified woodland and fossilised trees embedded on coastal bedrock.

The Cathedral Caves in the Catlins - access is only available two hours either side of low tide. A flashlight is essential to visit these caves, as they interconnect in total darkness almost 100 meters inside the main entrance. They consist of five caves along the Waipati Beach, with some as high as 20 meters. Wave-carved from the soft sandstone compressed between the harder sedimentary rock of this spectacular syncline formation, they are truly impressive when observed at low tide from Waipati Beach. The shy native blue penguins and rare but curious blinking large-eyed fur seals are often seen in the total darkness far back in the recesses of these caves. The Cathedral Caves in the Catlins are situated in a gated access area and are a steep scenic bush walk down to this remote beach. The Cathedral Caves in the Catlins are one of the biggest draw cards of the Catlins and have to be considered a “must see”!  

Many independent and campervan travelers have often, due to lack of a place to stay, missed out on visiting The Cathedral Caves in the Catlins due to their tidal nature. Many times the Cathedral Caves in the Catlins are open either early in the morning or late at night during the long summer twilight hours.

The Catlins McLean Falls Motel & Eco Holiday Park are a short 600 metres from the Cathedral Caves.