Slope Point Lookout, Catlins, Southland

At the southern most point on the South Island

 Karen and I visited Slope Point while down in the Catlin's. Slope Point is just south of Curio Bay and can be accessed across some farmland on a track to spectacular cliff top views of the southern ocean. This is another of the 'must do' tourist spot if you are in the area. 

Signs at the Slope Point Lookout, Southland

You can see right along the coast from Slope Point

It is quite an interesting area if not the normal bush walks I go on...so lets have a look at what you will find there.

Visiting Slope Point in the Catlin's:

We stopped at Slope Point on the way back from Waipapa Point which is another 30 odd minutes further south along the Southern Scenic Highway. There are a series of cliff top views from here but Slope Point is best known as the southern most point on the South Island. 

Sealed carpark for the Slope Point Lookout

Bruce the Britz van at Slope Point Lookout

The track was open when we visited but you should check first as it crosses farmland and it is usually closed from August to late October for the lambing season. Lucky for us there were no sheep in these paddocks so we were able to use the track. 

Start of the track to the Slope Point Lookout

You walk over an obvious grass track from the carpark to almost down near the lookout. The land is even and slightly descending which means you will be walking uphill on the return journey. 

Slope Point Lookout Track is mown grass

There were a lot of people visiting Slope Point the day we were there...we passed at least ten other folk. Most were couples or families' but there were a couple of single people as well. This was actually one of the busier spots we visited down in the Catlin's. 

Other visitors to the Slope Point Lookout Track

Distant Maritime NZ radar reflector at Slope Point Lookout

...the Slope Point Lookout Track is across farmland...

You have views along the coast from a number of spots on the track. The best are from down near the lookout but you can also get close to the cliffs half way along the track. If you have children with you keep a close eye on them as there are no barriers to stop them falling off the cliffs. 

There are steep, dangerous cliffs along Slope Point Track

Coastal view near Slope Point...Southland

Slope Point itself is marked by a two meter high white radar reflector station just back from the edge of the cliffs. On a clear day it provides a point of navigation to aim for...

Slope Point Lookout is near the radar reflector

Radar reflector at Slope Point Lookout

The cliffs at Slope Point range from 20-60 meters high and provide excellent views both ways along the coast. The underlaying rock is mudstone from some ancient ocean bed with a thin layer of stones and topsoil. Heavy rain and strong winds have scoured these cliff tops giving them a worn look. 

Slope Point Lookout...the view south

Heavy erosion around the Slope Point Lookout

The view north from Slope Point Lookout

On a clear still day you can see out to Rakuira/Stewart Island from the lookout at Slope Point. You could just see the tops of the highest mountains and the towering thunderclouds building up over the distant islands. 

I am super keen to get back to Rakuira as I would love to walk both the Southern Circuit and the North West Circuit on the main island. 

Distant clouds over Rakuira/Stewart Island

The radar reflector is the property of Maritime NZ and provides a enhanced radar picture for any ships cruising along this coastline. There is also a light on the top to warn ships that they are close to a reef just to the front of the Lookout. 

A Maritime New Zealand radar reflector: Slope Point Lookout

...the radar reflector warns ships of the reefs at Slope Point...

Maritime NZ logo on the reflector, Slope Point

The other point of interest here is an AA style road sign showing the distance to both Antarctica and the Equator. 

View of the ocean from Slope Point Lookout

Slope Point is roughly equidistant between the two with 5000 kilometers north and south of this point. It is also marked as the southern most spot on the mainland of New Zealand although Rakuira reaches several degrees further south. 

Signs at the Slope Point Lookout

Just about equidistant from Antarctica and the Equator

Please exercise a bit of caution when you are on the cliff tops at Slope Point. This is not a sanitized tourist spot so there are no safety fences to stop you falling off the edge. It is roughly 60 meters to the rocks below so a fall from here could be and has been fatal. 

In strong wind it would be very easy to get blown off the cliffs so I recommend you stay a couple of meters back from the edge. 

Care is needed on the edge of the cliffs at Slope Point

There are two reefs at Slope Point and they jut out from the coast for a couple of hundred meters. There is no safe way to climb down to them so you just have to admire them from afar.

 People sometimes see Seals and Sea Lions here and there are frequent sightings of both Whales and Dolphins in the sea off the point. They round this point as they migrate from west to east coast...

The reef at Slope Point in the Catlin's

We spent about 10 minutes down at Slope Point and after taking the obligatory photo in front of the sign we set off back up the track to the carpark and the campervan. 

Jon at Slope Point Lookout in Southland

The reflector at Slope Point Lookout

Distant clouds over Rakuira/Stewart Island

It is uphill all the way back to the carpark but it is a very gentle climb gaining perhaps 60 meters over a kilometer of track. It is not a Great Walk but it is still a easy track to use as it is flat and soft grassland. 

Climbing back up the track from Slope Point Lookout

If you were visiting Slope Point in a storm or during thick fog this track could be dangerous as there is no barrier to stop you blundering off the cliffs. I would suggest you go elsewhere in those conditions but if you must visit keep the fence line in view from the carpark edge as it goes right down to near the radar reflector at Slope Point. 

Do not go blindly walking into the abyss...or you might find an abyss!!!

It is a bleak and barren landscape at Slope Point Lookout

Fence line along the Slope Point Lookout Track

There is a line of trees planted near the start of the track with a definite lean to them caused by the strong southerly wind. Slope Point is one of the windiest spots in New Zealand and the wind is strong enough and persistent enough to permanently bend the trunks...

Twisted trees at Slope Point in Southland

Back along the Slope Point Lookout Track

Southerly winds have shaped these trees, Slope Point Track

It takes about 15 minutes to walk back up to the carpark and the last section is the steepest even though it is very gentle. It is a very pleasant walk in reality and we saw a range of ages including people much older than us who seemed to find no difficulty so it is suitable for everyone. 

Clear path down to the Slope Point Lookout

Blacks Point is south of the Slope Point Lookout

 On a clear sunny day this is a most enjoyable stroll but please take warm gear and a decent rain jacket if you visit on a cold, wet or windy day. We had a lovely day on our visit but I still had my merino hat on as we walked back to the car as my face and ears were getting cold. 

Slope Point...back at the carpark

There was a steady stream of visitors to Slope Point

I can thoroughly recommend the walk out to Slope Point...you will expend a modicum of energy getting there but it is well worth the effort. A really lovely and interesting spot to visit...

Access: Slope Point is 14km south of Curio Bay and can be accessed along the Haldane-Curio Bay Road. From the Haldane-Curio Bay Road take Slope Point Road to the large carpark signposted at the start of the track
Track Times: It is 1.2 kilometers to the cliffs at Slope Point from the carpark. It will take you 20-40 minutes return to visit the cliffs and walk back to the carpark. 
Miscellaneous: Slope Point is the southern most spot on the South Island of New Zealand. The track crosses pasture to the edge of some high cliffs with excellent views along the coast. There is a shipping beacon here and signs showing the distance to Antarctica and the Equator. The track will be closed from August-late October for lambing season if Sheep are present. 

South Point and Curio Bay campground, South Catlins, Southland

 Views of the sea and a disorganised campground experience

We were supposed to visit the Cathedral Caves on the way south from Lake Wilkie but unfortunately they were closed for the lambing season as you have to cross some farmland to get to them. So...word to the wise...don't try to visit Cathedral Caves from September to the end of October folks...

FYI: No access to Cathedral Caves in September-October

Instead we headed straight to Curio Bay and the the campground we were staying in for two days. Curio Bay is in the southern end of the Catlins in Southland and is the only obvious place to camp at this end of the Catlins. 

Rocky beach between South Head and Curio Bay

We were here for two nights to give us time to explore this end of the Catlins. 

Curio Bay campground:

We had booked to stay at Curio Bay Campground and online it looked like an awesome spot to park up for a couple of days. It has many campsites and newer facilities than Pounawea but when we arrived we discovered that the reception/café was shut for a couple of weeks. 

This was news to us...

An idyllic looking campsite at Curio Bay

Instead of face to face check-in you have to contact the owners for details of your site and a code for the amenity building with the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry and lounge area. This is fine but we had a hell of a job contacting the owners as they did not answer their phone. 

Map: The area around Curio Bay and Porpoise Bay

We were on the point of pulling pin and driving back to Pounawea or to Invercargill when we finally got through to them. They sent through all the information but this should have been sent automatically if they knew they were not going to be there.

A bad first impression and piss poor performance...!!! 

Some of the campervan sites at Curio Bay Campground

 The campsites were set amongst areas of Harakeke down by Porpoise Bay and they were flat, dry and well maintained so they were quite nice. There are campsites, and powered and unpowered caravan sites available. There is a set of toilets at this end of the campground and we used these at night as the main amenity block was about 400 meters away. 

The campsite themselves are very nice...Curio Bay

The amenity building is very nice and only a couple of years old but you have to pay for hot showers during the summer which was also news to us. It would have been nice if they had let us know beforehand as we had no change on us! Luckily the showers were free while the campground owner was away. 

Amenity block at the Curio Bay Campground

Apart from that I the campground was cool...the kitchen was well appointed with plenty of space and it was warm and inviting inside. The showers work really well and the laundry was good with several washers and dryers all coin operated. It was comfortable inside the amenity block and I really like that everything is together. 

Kitchen at Curio Bay Campground...nice

Dining area at the Curio Bay Campground

I cannot fault the facilities only the deplorable check-in service...it was stress inducing at the end of a long days drive!!!

Curio Bay and South Head:

There are a number of places of interest here at Curio Bay. There is a area of petrified trees on the beach near the Curio Bay Café at the campground. The café was closed but we had a look at the menu posted at the window and it looked nice. It looks like they usually have cabinet food and hot meals from morning through early evening. 

The shoreline of Curio Bay in the Catlin's

There is also South Head which is the headland to the east of the campground with views up and down the coast. 

South Head from near Curio Bay

There is a very lovely beach at Porpoise Bay and it would be possible to walk right along the length of Porpoise Bay on the golden sandy beach. It looked to be about three kilometers to the far end and the mouth of Waikawa Harbour.

South Head and the entrance to Porpoise Bay

People often see Seals, Sea Lions, whales and yes Porpoises in Porpoise Bay....in times past there were whaling stations here. 

Porpoise Bay is next to the campground

Up by the Reception-Café at Curio Bay Campground is a patch of coastal Rimu forest with a nice track around the interior. They have named it the Tumu Toka Living Forest. It is a ten hectare block of old growth forest and as well as a lot of Rimu trees there are Fuchsia, Totara, Kahikatea and Matai Trees. 

Entrance to the Rimu forest at Curio Bay

After we set ourselves up for the night Karen and I went for a walk up to the lookout at South Head at the end of the peninsula the campground occupies. There are some sea cliffs at South Head and from the top edge you could see for quite some distance up and down the coast. There are a couple of bench seats there you can sit on and there is a gravel road right to the top of the head so you could sit inside and look at the views. 

The sea was rough at South Head, Curio Bay

Curio Bay and Flaxy Head are south of South Head

Looking out to the ocean from South Head at Curio Bay

You have a good outlook over the campground from south Head and back along the access road to the holiday homes at the main Curio Bay Settlement. This is the best place to take in the entirety of Porpoise Bay which is just to the north of the campsite. 

View out to Curio Bay and Porpoise Bay from South Head

We were the only people staying in the campground that night and with the remoteness, problems getting access to the amenities, the dark, wet and windy weather and the campsite set up it just felt a bit weird. Like creepy Friday the 13th style weird! 

A couple of beverages made things brighter but we made sure we locked up the campervan securely that night...

....Malibu and Pineapple Juice is a great cure all....

Things looked better the next morning when we woke up to a beautiful sunny day and now that we had worked out how to access everything we were much happier at the Curio Bay Campground. It was much nicer on the second night as there were a couple of other camper vans parked nearby and it didn't seem so lonely and neglected.  

View out to Porpoise Bay from the Curio Bay campground

Surf Club building at Porpoise Bay, Catlins

Porpoise Bay from the Curio Bay Campground

Our arrival was not an ideal start to our two nights at this camp ground. I don't mind 'roughing it' but it was just a bit weird and un-organised as far as I was concerned. The fact that we had to chase down the owners for the check-in information was very unprofessional...

Our van site at the Curio Bay Campground

 I know we were the only people there on the first night but come on....when you are as slap dash as this people are not going to recommend your campground. I'm sure it is fine here in the middle of the summer when there are more people around but Karen and I were both disappointed. 

Anyway...

Access: Curio Bay is off the Southern Scenic Route in the southern part of the Catlins. Turn off the Southern Scenic Route at Waikawa Road and drive about 10 kilometers past Waikawa, Curio Bay Settlement to the carpark at the Curio Bay Campground. 
Miscellaneous: Tumu Toka/Curio Bay Campground is located on a peninsula near Waikawa in the southern Catlins area of Southland. There are powered and un powered sites here with a new amenity block (kitchen/toilets/showers/laundry) a café and reception office. There is a set of public toilets down by the Porpoise Bay Surf Club for camp users.