As you approach Tautuku Bay from the north on the Southern Scenic Route in the Catlins, it is first seen from Florence Hill, with a signposted lookout. If we were having a competition for the perfect view of an ideal golden crescent beach in New Zealand, this would be a top contender. Be sure to pull over at Florence Hill to look back if you are driving the highway from the south.
Tautuku is a stunning bay with a golden sand beach that curves over 4 km to the Tautuku Peninsula headland to the south. The estuary of the Tautuku River sits between the beach and the peninsula. The bay is backed by a substantial reserve of mature native forest with many big rata trees and podocarps.
You can access the beach at the north end on a short access road from the highway. There is a car park near the beach, although you can also drive onto the beach (best in an AWD). From the access, you can walk down the beach or head to the rocks around the north end below Florence Hill. Look out for pakake (sea lions) and stay at least 10 metres away if you see one. Hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) and kekeno (fur seals) are also possible. Tautuku Bay is also a surf destination.
If you have an AWD, consider driving down the beach to the peninsula as the tide retreats. At low tide, you can cross the river to this unique spot. There are several remote cribs, and it was once a port. There was a whaling station from 1839 to 1846, followed by fishing, flax, and timber milling. As these industries died out, the port was shut down and disappeared.
You can also access the beach further south on the Tautuku Bay Nature Walk, with the parking area signposted. This is an incredible 15-minute walk through ancient coastal rainforest to the beach, about 600 metres south of the road access.
A little further south on the highway is another signposted parking area for the Lake Wilkie Walk. Arguably, this short walk is even better than the nature walk. It has some of the best and most accessible big rata trees in the region, with a walk to a small lake.
There is a further option, with an access road on the north side of the Tautuku River to the Tautuku Estuary Walk. This gets you out onto the estuary. The Tautuku Lodge and Forest and Bird Lenz Reserve are almost immediately opposite the access road. In this part of the bay, people had the most impact on the forest.
It is 29 km southwest of Owaka and takes 30 minutes to drive. Papatowai and Tahakopa Bay are a short drive to the east on the far side of Florence Hill on the Southern Scenic Route. The access roads for Cathedral Caves and Mclean Falls are short drives to the west.
