Cathedral Caves Walk
Cathedral Caves Walk
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4.0
171 reviews
Excellent
86
Very good
51
Average
16
Poor
6
Terrible
12
Ken H
Ipswich, UK1,059 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
Well worth visiting if in the area. The primary caves themselves, largely created by wave action, are huge and joined at the back. Take your camera and a torch if you have one with you. Hopefully the following is helpful ... you absolutely must check the tides and opening times on their website as they are only accessible at low tide. Entry is $10 per adult. We found the access road to be a reasonably well graded track easily managed by cars and motorhomes (we saw a number of MH's parked in the carpark). There are new bathroom facilities at the carpark. The walk down to the beach takes about 20 mins via a great downhill forest trail then turn left and the caves are about 5-10 minutes along the beach. Whilst there and if conditions allow, just past the caves is a small point sticking out towards the sea. Go round that at low tide and you will be rewarded with more caves to explore.
Written 20 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephenwwood
Palmerston North, New Zealand30 contributions
Jan 2023 • Family
Left a bad taste with the whole family, felt like a complete rip off. Access road in very poor condition, perhaps some of the exorbitant fees could be spent on maintenance. Caves themselves where as described - would suggest checking out the many impressive waterfalls in the area instead of these caves.
Written 1 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sus1952
Palmerston North, New Zealand2,084 contributions
Feb 2022
This is certainly well worth visiting. The walk through the bush down to Cathedral Caves is magnificent. Of course you must go at low tide and so be careful to look this up before going. The cave itself is truly awe-inspiring. Definitely to be recommended and well worth the $10 entrance fee.
Written 1 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rigger Reid
Timaru, New Zealand207 contributions
Feb 2022
Awesome Caves well worth the walk in the bush and beach
Make sure you check what time the tides are as only open at low tide, maybe check opening times as not open all the time. $10 entry fee per person
Cave's were amazing beware for seals as there was one in the back
Remember to take a torch
Make sure you check what time the tides are as only open at low tide, maybe check opening times as not open all the time. $10 entry fee per person
Cave's were amazing beware for seals as there was one in the back
Remember to take a torch
Written 24 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff
Auckland, New Zealand4 contributions
Jan 2022 • Couples
Advertised on website as open this evening. But it wasn’t. Very disappointed in this poor customer service as were the other car loads waiting in vain.
Written 31 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
exploringnz
Dunedin, New Zealand27 contributions
Jan 2022
I had always wanted to see the cathedral caves and on this visit to the Catlins we got the opportunity. We got down to the beach after a short walk down the track and those caves were pretty big. There are effectively two caves joined at the back to create one mega cave. Well worth seeing.
What isn't so well known though is that if you continue around the headland there are numerous other caves round there that the official website calls "A few smaller caves are located further along the cliffs" when it says a few smaller caves it is talking about caves just as big as the main one but not joined at the back but also not filled with people. I would recommend these caves too as there is so much to explore around there but you have to be adventurous as it involves going through knee high to waist high water to get to the other beach containing those caves. I also noticed that the water is actually deeper right near the cliffs so it seems to be better to go a litte further out from them (about 20 meters or so). There is one cave there that is like a keyhole that you can see inside but not go inside unless you were some kind of caver I guess. There is another one that is extremely narrow but you can squeeze through to a larger area and another one that is big like the main one. There are probably others but I didn't have time to explore them all as my family was worried by my absence. Overall I would highly recommend those other caves - just don't get drowned!
What isn't so well known though is that if you continue around the headland there are numerous other caves round there that the official website calls "A few smaller caves are located further along the cliffs" when it says a few smaller caves it is talking about caves just as big as the main one but not joined at the back but also not filled with people. I would recommend these caves too as there is so much to explore around there but you have to be adventurous as it involves going through knee high to waist high water to get to the other beach containing those caves. I also noticed that the water is actually deeper right near the cliffs so it seems to be better to go a litte further out from them (about 20 meters or so). There is one cave there that is like a keyhole that you can see inside but not go inside unless you were some kind of caver I guess. There is another one that is extremely narrow but you can squeeze through to a larger area and another one that is big like the main one. There are probably others but I didn't have time to explore them all as my family was worried by my absence. Overall I would highly recommend those other caves - just don't get drowned!
Written 18 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MagicRoundabout365
Queenstown, New Zealand141 contributions
Jan 2022
If you are able: check the opening/closing times before you go; by going to the entrance and there is a big board on the opposite side of the road - we went half an hour before opening and there were people already waiting in their vehicles (there is very limited parking on the roadside/entrance before the locked gate which leads to the car park - the staff HAVE to get their vehicle to the locked gate in order to open it outwards so don’t block up the entrance as YOU WILL HAVE TO MOVE and it’s on a corner of a busy road - do not park on the road as you will be potentially causing an accident - the road to the car park is steep, long, about a good 5 minute plus to drive and very tight in passing going up and down the road - we were in a large Motorhome and were ok but it can get slippery and muddy if there has been raining - there are toilets in the car park - there is plenty of parking for about at least 100 vehicles - payment of $10 per adult and $2 per child which is well worth it (cash or eftpos) the walk to the cave is downhill through bush but a good cleared track but can be slippery to very slippery if it’s been raining hard and with all the people walking up and down it - we walked in Jandals which was probably not the best thing to do so then you come out onto soft sand and short walk over the beach to the cave - be prepared to either take off your shoes and walk to the FURTHEST entrance as it was easier access with feet getting wet BUT the first entrance the water would be over your knees in certain part to the entrance or a low climb onto the rocks around the deep entrance water, we thought that this water would not clear as it was still there and the sea had go out - the two entrances make a horseshoe shape - so you walk from one side to the other - acoustics are fantastic - lovely photo opportunities - gets busy. No food carts there so have refreshments before you go - there is only a 3 hour opportunity to see this cave so plan well or miss out - 10am opening to 1pm gate LOCKED when we went in beginning of Jan 2022 (but this can vary from day to day depending on tide times and weather) - you get a map - staff super friendly - recommend trainers & be prepared to take off trainers and get feet wet to potentially over you knees if you want to walk all the way through the cave - young children would have to be carried - not suitable from prams/buggy/wheelchair or if you are not steady on your feet. Hope you enjoy the cave as it is a spectacular creation of Mother Nature.
Written 8 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emma W
Queenstown84 contributions
Apr 2021
Dangerous for anyone with mobility issues. You can expect to get wet up to the waist even at low tide and the waves are strong enough to knock you off your feet. The forest walk down is amazing though - I've never seen so many ferns!
Written 23 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lambertc887
Hamilton, New Zealand45 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
There are better bush walks in the area and track isn't particularly well maintained considering the charge implies it pays for the upkeep. Of course the access to the sea cave is the main draw card but there are also other beautiful caves on our shores in NZ that are free to visit. It is a busy tourist spot and the limited viewing time means you will be surrounded with other people. Bit disappointed with the experience.
Written 5 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grizzy
Queenstown, New Zealand31 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
This is a must see !!! So proud to be a kiwi and be able to visit this amazing place and very well run. It's well worth the 10.00 entrance and the walk back up the hill !!! So amazing bring a torch to explore the inside of the caves !!
Written 4 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
traveller-tan
Singapore, Singapore28 contributions
Hello all. The low tide timing in the website for the days where I am planning to visit the caves would be 7:47AM and 8.32AM (two different days)
I was thinking for 7.47AM, is it even possible to visit the caves when they gates would be open only at 7.30am? Or, will they make an exception and open much earlier.
Anyone experienced this cave with an early low tide timing?
Wat time are caves open to day
sealover1963
Christchurch, New Zealand3 contributions
Hi there I am just replying to Judith K's review as she has a number of inaccuracies. The attendant is up at the car park 2 kms away from the gate that is locked. Obviously the time changes each day as it is a tidal attraction so opening and closing is controlled by the sea! And finally and most importantly the Caves are opened not for just 2 hours but actually for at least 4 hours. Its open 2 hours before low tide and 2 hours after, access dependent. If the seas are very high and their is a swell running they may delay opening for a 1/2 hour or so while it is being checked for safety but if the tide is low as it sometimes is due to full moon's influence then they can well be open 3 hours after low tide, oh and the hill you have to walk up thats steep, you actually have to walk down it first, so pretty sure you would know what you can expect while you are walking down it.
Judith K
Pukekohe, New Zealand328 contributions
Thanks for that actually I said they can only be accessed close to low tide, so I was not implying it is at the whim of someone. When we went they only opened the gate between 8am and 10am. However the gate was going to be opened again in the late afternoon for the evening low tide. So perhaps if it is only open once in the day it is open for longer. It is good to make people aware before they start out that it is quite steep, so they know before they get there. Thanks for clarifying those things. I gave this attraction 5 stars. I know of a number of people who have missed it due to gate opening times. I wanted people to know how to check the times in advance. It is a real gem and a shame if people miss it.
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Claim your listingCATHEDRAL CAVES WALK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
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