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New Zealand🇳🇿 | beachesPurakaunui BayLayered cliffs, DOC campsite, driftwood line, Milky Way | things to do and best time to go

Explore Allans BeachExplore Curio Bay

Backpacking in Purakaunui Bay
👀 For curious travelersbeach ranked #21
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

The campsite here is a basic Department of Conservation site with no power and no shop, so you bring everything. Purakaunui Bay sits on the Catlins coast in the south of New Zealand, down a long gravel road. Cream cliffs frame a wide, empty beach, and the surf is strong, so swimming is for wading. I came over the last rise and saw the whole bay laid open, with not one other car. Unlike busy Nugget Point, nobody shares this view with you.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #21 beach in New ZealandReasons people choose to visit here

Backpackers come for the DOC campsite behind the dunes, where a campervan or tent costs very little and the only neighbors are a handful of other travelers. It works as a quiet pause on the Southern Scenic Route, far from the tour buses of the main Catlins stops. Sunrise is the other draw: the bay faces east, so the cream-colored cliffs glow first light while the sand is still untouched. Bring your own food, because the nearest shops are a long drive away.

💡 HighlightsWhat this place is best known for

  1. Purakaunui Bay cliffs and beach: tall, pale, layered cliffs curve around a long stretch of sand, and the shape of the bay is what most people photograph.
  2. Sunrise on the sand: the bay opens east, so the light hits the cliff faces early and you often have the beach to yourself.
  3. Beach walking and driftwood hunting: the tide leaves logs, kelp and shells along the high-water line, and the walk to the far headland takes a relaxed hour or so.
  4. Surf watching and rock pools: waves break hard and the current is strong, so most people watch, then explore the rock pools at low tide.
  5. Stargazing from the campsite: with no town lights nearby, the southern sky is dark enough to show the Milky Way on clear nights.
If time is short, skip the long headland walk and just take in the bay from the dunes.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Purakaunui Bay

Clearwater Wildlife Tours (small group 10max) Otago Peninsula

Clearwater Wildlife Tours (small group 10max) Otago Peninsula

4.9(699) 4h
From €121
per personViator
Speight's Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting

Speight's Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting

4.9(703) 1h 15m
From €23
per personViator
Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience Otago Peninsula, New Zealand

Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience Otago Peninsula, New Zealand

5.0(571) 1h 30m
From €31
per personViator
Dunedin WATER TAXI-Port To Port

Dunedin WATER TAXI-Port To Port

5.0(233) 10m
From €26
per personViator
Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour

Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour

4.9(234) 1h
From €41
per personViator
Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour & Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience

Otago Peninsula In-Depth Tour & Blue Penguins Pukekura Experience

5.0(211) 5h
From €85
per personViator
Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour

Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour

4.9(223) 1h
From €13.64
per personViator
Albatross, seals, and sea birds-Wildlife Cruise

Albatross, seals, and sea birds-Wildlife Cruise

4.8(206)
From €98
per personViator
Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour

Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour

4.8(149) 4h
From €75
per personViator
Dunedin Wildlife Cruise-Albatross, seals and harbour

Dunedin Wildlife Cruise-Albatross, seals and harbour

4.9(138)
From €98
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

  • Summer (December to February): Daytime highs of 16 to 20°C (61 to 68°F) and about 15 hours of daylight; this is the driest, calmest stretch for the gravel road and for camping.
  • Autumn and Spring: 10 to 15°C (50 to 59°F), fewer people, and sea lions loafing on the sand.
  • Winter (June to August): 3 to 9°C (37 to 48°F), roughly 9 hours of light, frosty mornings and rough seas.
Camping here is a donation-based or low-cost affair year-round, so crowds rarely drive prices. Arrive by mid-afternoon for the best light on the cliffs.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: below average for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: good for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in New Zealand

The best base is the Catlins itself, since Purakaunui Bay has no town and the nearest hostels sit 20 to 40 minutes away by road. Owaka is the social hub: a small town with a few budget beds, a cafe, a pub and a shop, where you will meet other travelers doing the Southern Scenic Route. Kaka Point to the northeast is quieter and more seaside, good if you want a beach walk at dusk. If you have a tent or van, the basic campground right at the bay puts you steps from the surf, though it has no shop, so stock up in Owaka first.
Best hostels in New Zealand


Best quality hotels in New Zealand

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Purakaunui Bay

Purakaunui Bay is a wild, open surf beach with no lifeguards, so treat it as a place for paddling and walking rather than serious swimming. Waves are consistent and rips can form, and the water stays cold year-round. Sea lions often rest on the sand, and you should keep about 10 meters away, especially from large males. Sun is strong even on cool days, and the wind picks up in the afternoon. Break-ins are rare here, but keep valuables out of sight in your vehicle.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Purakaunui Bay is reached by car, about 20 to 25 minutes from Owaka along a partly unsealed road, and roughly 2 hours from Dunedin and about 1 hour from Balclutha. There is no public transport, so most backpackers rent a car or van in Dunedin or Invercargill. The final stretch is gravel and can be rough after rain. Hitching is possible but traffic is sparse.
Swimming is possible but not ideal, since the surf is steady, the water is cold (roughly 10 to 15°C) and there are no lifeguards. Surfing is the better draw, with beach breaks that suit intermediate surfers; you will want a 4/3 mm wetsuit or thicker and should bring your own board, as there is no rental on site. Snorkeling is not worthwhile because of the surf and poor clarity. Most visitors come for the cliffs, the sea lions and the sunset walk.
Yes, access to the beach is free, as is parking at the bay. The Department of Conservation campsite behind the beach is low-cost, with a small nightly fee in the range of NZ$10 to 15 per adult (roughly US$6 to 9). Facilities are basic, with long-drop toilets and no shower, so bring drinking water. Entry to the nearby Purakaunui Falls walk, about 10 minutes away, is also free.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other New Zealander beaches near Purakaunui Bay

Explore more nearby:

  • Porpoise Bay—Hector's dolphins, cold shore break, beginner waves, Catlins dunes| 40 km away
  • Curio Bay—Jurassic fossil forest, hoiho dusk, rock platform| 42 km away
  • St Clair Beach—City surf, seawall, heated salt pool, esplanade cafes| 98 km away

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Most visitors overlook the paddocks behind the beach, where the campsite sits in sheltered grass. I would arrive by mid-afternoon to claim a flat spot, and bring a warm layer for evenings.

✈️ When did I visit New Zealand?
All the way back in high school I have been visiting the North Island of New Zealand (1993).

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in New Zealand, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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