Top Things to do in Otago Region
The 10 Best Beaches in Otago Region, South Island
Discover the best top things to do in Otago Region, New Zealand including Waikouaiti Beach, Purakaunui Bay, Doctor's Point Reserve, Allans Beach, Dunedin Beach, Karitane Beach, Warrington Beach, Aramoana Beach, Papatowai Beach, St Clair Beach.
Restaurants in Otago Region
1. Waikouaiti Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By 40beckye - Dunedin, New Zealand
Love love love this beach. It’s an awesome place to take your furry friend for a nice stroll. The beach is really long (walk all the way to entrance to Karitane estuary) so you can take a long walk should you so wish. Beautiful outlook towards Karitane near the south of the beach. Often horses training on the beach so make sure you have a lead for your dog just in case. Surf is usually pretty gentle so can swim safely (while not patrolled). Family friendly!
2. Purakaunui Bay
3. Doctor's Point Reserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By maserk - Colorado Springs, United States
A local guide took us here to walk along the beach and visit the sea caves, explaining the geology and how they were formed. It was terrible weather and really raining when we went, but we only had one day in this area as we were on a large cruise ship with multiple stops around both the North and South Islands. We got to see oyster catchers on the beach, and our guide was looking at the logs on the beach as we walked along the sand, making sure that they were not moving because she knew that sea lions sometimes come ashore in the area. When we got to the sea caves, she took our photo (so you can get an idea of the scale from the pic attached.) Then she hung back and encouraged us to go in and see ... knowing that it opened up on the other side to a different part of the beach that you don't know is there from the front side. But as we moved into the cave we saw a log ... with FLIPPERS! It was a mama sea lion lying there in the cave. We were able to go around and see her from the front side. We stayed far enough away not to bother her, but it was super neat to see. Our guide said that it was a female who probably had come to give birth there since it's the right time of year. She also told us there very few female New Zealand sea lions (formerly known as hooker sea lions) who come onto the mainland - normally they stay out on the islands. So we felt really fortunate to see this one. It's a beautiful area!
4. Allans Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By 422iana - Dunedin, New Zealand
This is Dunedin's hidden gem! Off the tourist route, but you are likely to see sea lions in this area. Walk all the way down the beach to the estuary. You can also see penguins are the right time. Please read the signs and don't get close to these animals. So many tourists get right next to them and they are big animals and if provoked could cause damage.
5. Dunedin Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 145 reviews
Reviewed By RaejonRae - Levin, New Zealand
Awesome drivetoday around the Peninsula,the albatross colony back around to Dunedin city. Awesome day out with beautiful views
6. Karitane Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 53 reviews
Reviewed By JeanneN326 - Auckland, New Zealand
A stunning beach sitting on the Pacific. Great for surf and relaxation. Good local walks. A bit chilly that day for toe tipping but looked a good beach for swimming in. Well worth the visit out to
7. Warrington Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
8. Aramoana Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 166 reviews
Reviewed By JW_Dam - Nijmegen, The Netherlands
We were here early morning, the weather was very fine, blue sky and hardly wind. We took our breakfast sitting on a bench at the beginning of the jetty and in front of the beach. A red billed gull was watching us, hoping for a crump of our sandwitches! At sea a large fishing trawler picked up the pilot and sailed through the narrow entrance of the Dunedin harbour bay. A little later we walked along the beach. The water here is very clear and the dunes are covered with Yellow Lupines and Pink-purple asters. A coupe of Oyster catchers was dancing at the water line. A little further a Paradise Shelduck male was sleeping, waked up and walked away. Gulls adna NZ Falcon fly high in the blue sky and on the way back a beautiful female sea lion was making here bed for a late morning nap! She gave us all the time we needed to take our pictures from a close distance, Nature here is splendid.
9. Papatowai Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
Reviewed By X8958YEpeterm - Invercargill, New Zealand
We visited Papatowai Beach on a rugged afternoon but that didn't takeaway from this fantastic place. Wild, rugged and a great place to visit.
10. St Clair Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By Sand_51714 - Auckland Central, New Zealand
What a beautiful day it was when we arrived at the beach lots of surfers enjoying the big waves. Easy parking, and lovely promenade to walk along
