Pounawea nature walks

Located in Catlins coastal area in the Otago region

These short walks travel from Pounawea Estuary through a forest that is full of birdlife. It also travels along a sand spit that is home to wading birds.

Pounawea Nature Walk

Time: 15 min round trip

This loop track takes you through bush typical of the area, and has info panels with plant and tree labelling.

Pounawea Bush Walking Track

Time: 45 min round trip

The track starts from Pounawea Motor Camp. It passes through a stand of virgin podocarp forest, well populated by birdlife. It returns to the start via a loop through a salt marsh and estuary.

The estuary shows an intact sequence of vegetation from shoreline to forest. The sand spit near the estuary mouth is home to wading birds, including godwits who annually return from northern Asia.

The saltmarsh section of the track is only accessible at low tide.

Turn on to Pounawea Road at Owaka from SH92, the Southern Scenic Route.

The track starts from the Pounawea Motor Camp, on the foreshore at the end of Pounawea Road. Vehicles should be parked outside the camping ground.

Dogs are not permitted on Tunnel Hill, Barrs Falls and Surat Bay Wildlife walks.

The Otago coast is frequented by sea lions, other marine mammals and vulnerable bird life. Don't disturb them.

Pounawea Estuary is a special place where you can experience virgin podocarp forest rich in birdlife (including bellbirds/korimako, kererū and fantails/pīwakawaka), meeting saltmarsh and estuary.

It is home to wading birds such as royal spoonbills/kōtuku-ngutupapa and bar-tailed godwits/kauka which return to the sandspit near the mouth of the estuary each year. 

You may see New Zealand sea lions. 

The estuary is fed by the Ōwaka and Catlins rivers and is popular for fishing, boating, kayaking and swimming.