The Tautuku Bay Nature Walk is 500 metres west along the Southern Scenic Route from the Tautuku Bay beach access road. There is room for parking on the side of the road next to the trailhead. The easy walk goes gently downhill through beautiful ancient rainforest and terminates at the beach, about 600 metres from the northern end and road access. There are a few steps at the end, but the walk suits almost anyone. It takes 15 minutes each way, and it won’t be crowded!
The forest is stunning. This part of the Catlins was never logged, and there are numerous big podocarps - rimu, tōtara, kahikatea - and some big rata trees. With the big trees, it is quite a different experience from the better-known waterfall walks, but it gets far less attention.
The stunning short Lake Wilkie Walk is another 600 metres west along the highway, followed shortly after by the Tautuku Estuary Walk and the Forest and Bird Lenz Reserve.
The nature walk is 30 km southwest of Owaka, and it takes about 30 minutes to drive there.
