Kātiki Point Lighthouse, Coastal Otago

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You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to spots to stop on the drive between Dunedin and Oamaru. So many beaches, viewpoints and short walks! Kātiki Point Lighthouse is a great option — it’s a short distance from the main road, it doesn’t take long to visit and there are several interesting things to see.

Kātiki Point Lighthouse

Pulling up to the car park you’ll first notice the awesome view over the coastline south of Kātiki Point. From there it’s a short walk to the lighthouse and then a little further to where the wildlife hangs out. The lighthouse dates back well over 100 years and is interesting enough (this place is more about the wildlife though).

Kaiktiki Beach, Dunedin to Oamaru, New Zealand

There are some nice views along the short path and maybe you’ll get lucky and see some of the local residents. A quick look around should only take 10-15 minutes if in a hurry, but you might want to stay a little longer if the wildlife is out and about.

Wildlife

You may see seals, penguins and sea birds at Kātiki Point Lighthouse but it depends when you go. Try around sunset if you’re keen to see penguins (yellow-eyed). We stumbled upon a group of adorable seal pups when we visited and it was such a fun experience seeing them play together. This is one of the best wildlife spots on this section of the Otago coastline — also check out Shag Point for a similar experience.

Kātiki Beach

You’ll see Kātiki Beach from close to the car park and when driving past it (it’s one of the more scenic sections of the Dunedin-Oamaru Road). The road is right by the beach so it’s an easy one to visit if you need to stretch your legs.

READ MORE: The Scenic Drive Between Dunedin and Oamaru

Getting There

Kātiki Point Lighthouse is located close to the village of Moeraki, an hour from Dunedin and 30 mins from Oamaru. Check out our post about Moeraki — we reckon it’s the best place to stay between Dunedin and Oamaru and you don’t want to miss the iconic Moeraki Boulders!

The best things to do in Moeraki, New ZealandSunrise at Moeraki Boulders, Coastal Otago, New Zealand

Are you planning a trip to New Zealand? Check out our South Island travel guide!

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Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.
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