Curio Bay

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Curio Bay

Bay

Curio Bay is a coastal bay on the southern coast of New Zealand's South Island, famous for a Jurassic-age petrified forest and coastal wildlife. Travellers come for the exposed fossil stumps at low tide, penguins, dolphins and dramatic shoreline scenery.

Curio Bay InvercargillTe AnauGore, New ZealandBluff, New ZealandCurio Bay

Curio Bay essentials

Address: Curio Bay, The Catlins, Southland Region, New Zealand

Curio Bay sits on the southern edge of the South Island in the Catlins and contains one of the world’s most extensive and least disturbed fossil forests, with petrified logs and stumps around 180 million years old. The trees were buried by volcanic mudflows and later mineralized by silica, preserving stumps, wood and occasionally fern fronds and leaves.

The site lies within a working coastal environment that also supports wildlife: yellow-eyed penguins breed nearby, Hector’s dolphins frequent the surf, and southern right whales can sometimes be seen offshore. The bay and adjacent Porpoise Bay are valuable for marine conservation and birdlife.

Visitors access the fossil area from a sealed road and a car park, then follow a short walkway to a viewing platform that overlooks the exposed stumps at low tide. The forest is scientifically important and it is strictly prohibited to damage or remove fossils; interpretive signs and an information centre in nearby Waikawa provide context for the site.

  • Petrified forest: At low tide the fossilised tree stumps and logs become visible on the shore, revealing 180-million-year-old conifers and occasional fern impressions.
  • Viewing platform and walkway: A short sealed walkway leads from the car park to a viewing platform above the exposed fossil beds for safe observation and photography.
  • Yellow-eyed penguins: Shy yellow-eyed penguins may be seen coming ashore or moving along the coastline, best observed quietly from a distance.
  • Marine wildlife: Look offshore for Hector’s dolphins and, occasionally, larger visitors such as southern right whales against the rugged southern horizon.
  • Coastal scenery and rock pools: The bay’s rocky shore and tidal pools are interesting to explore at low tide for coastal plants and intertidal life.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Curio Bay#

Curio Bay is visitable year-round but weather and tide state affect what you can see; choose dates for mild weather or wildlife activity and time outings to low tide.

Summer (best)
December - February · 9°C - 19°C (48°F - 66°F)
Summer has the mildest temperatures and generally easier conditions for coastal walking, making low-tide visits and wildlife spotting more comfortable.
Autumn
March - May · 5°C - 17°C (41°F - 63°F)
Autumn can be showery but often offers dramatic light and fewer visitors; be prepared for wetter days and check tide times before heading out.
Winter
June - August · 2°C - 11°C (36°F - 52°F)
Winter is coolest and can be windy or wet, which helps with dramatic sea conditions and occasional whale sightings, but dress warmly and allow for variable access depending on weather.

Weather & Climate near Curio Bay#

Climate

Curio Bay's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in February) and cold winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 2°C to 19°C. Abundant rainfall (1028 mm/year), wettest in May.

Air Quality: AQI 20 Good
Best Time to Visit
NovemberJanuaryFebruary
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
29°
Warmest Month
-2°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Good 10° - 18° 14° 77 mm overcast 78% 7.0 m/s 2.0 extreme 15.1h
February Good 10° - 19° 14° 85 mm overcast 79% 7.5 m/s 1.6 very high 13.8h
March Good 9° - 17° 13° 89 mm overcast 81% 6.4 m/s 1.0 high 12.3h
April Acceptable 7° - 15° 11° 98 mm overcast 85% 5.5 m/s 0.5 low 10.6h
May Poor 5° - 12° 5° 141 mm overcast 88% 6.3 m/s 0.2 low 9.2h
June Acceptable 3° - 10° 3° 103 mm overcast 89% 5.6 m/s 0.1 low 8.4h
July Acceptable 3° - 10° 3° 79 mm overcast 89% 5.1 m/s 0.1 low 8.8h
August Acceptable 3° - 11° 4° 59 mm overcast 87% 5.2 m/s 0.2 low 10.0h
September Acceptable 4° - 13° 6° 69 mm overcast 83% 5.8 m/s 0.5 moderate 11.6h
October Acceptable 6° - 14° 10° 82 mm overcast 80% 6.8 m/s 1.0 moderate 13.3h
November Good 7° - 16° 11° 67 mm overcast 79% 7.0 m/s 1.6 very high 14.7h
December Good 9° - 17° 13° 79 mm overcast 78% 6.4 m/s 2.0 very high 15.5h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Curio Bay#

Curio Bay is in the Catlins region; the nearest small centre with tourist information is Waikawa, and the area is administratively in the Southland Region.

The nearest regional airports and main transport hubs are in Invercargill and Dunedin; from those cities visitors generally drive or take a coach into the Catlins, then follow the sealed local road to the Curio Bay car park and short coastal walkway.

Tips for Visiting Curio Bay#

  • Plan your visit around low tide to see the petrified stumps fully exposed and avoid misinterpreting submerged beds at high tide.
  • Keep a respectful distance from wildlife, stay on the boardwalks and viewing platform, and follow on-site signage - removing or defacing fossils is prohibited.
  • Weather on the southern coast can be cool and wet even in summer, so bring layered waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear for the rocky shore.
  • Check local information in Waikawa for current wildlife-viewing advice and any temporary access notes.