Kaka Point is a small town of about 250 people on the northern edge of the Catlins. The town is on Kaka Point Road on the Pacific Ocean coast, 14 km south of Balclutha, 17 km from Owaka and 8 km north of Nugget Point. The population fluctuates seasonally and has many cribs (small holiday homes). Services are limited, with a good pub/restaurant and accommodation options.
The town's best feature is its beautiful golden sand beach, directly accessible from the main road. The beach sits on either side of the rocky point and runs south, with rocky interruptions to Wilsher Bay and Short Bay. It is a popular surfing location, and there is a good chance of seeing a whakahao (sea lion). Take care, as they are not averse to hanging around in the grassy dunes next to the access paths to the beach!
The town is named after the kākā parrot, recognised for its distinctive call of "ka-aa." Sadly, although many of these large forest parrots were in the Catlins in the 1800s, they were severely impacted by the deforestation around the northern end of the region.
Despite the loss of the forest, there is a remnant of mature podocarp forest behind the town. The Kākā Point Bush Walk provides a short loop track from the Kākā Point campground, and you can enter or exit the track from Rata Street or Totara Street at the southwest end of the town.