Curio Bay Cliffs

Even in a cloudy day, this is a majestic place to visit no only due to be one of the best places to meet pinguins, but also because of its nature beauty with amazing cliffs and beachs.Renting a place to camp is possible, so anyone can enjoy for a full weekend all this amazing place that can be much beautiful also during the night with a clear sky.If anyone is going to spend a weekend, recommend to take your own provisions because is a remote area, being possible to eat in the restaurant on the cliffs.Also there is a museum about all the region inside of the restaurant and a surfing school for anyone desiring to learn surfing or maybe just rent some equipments.

Visitors to Curio Bay during the summer and autumn can often see Hector's dolphins surfing in the waves. Along with yellow-eyed penguins, fur seals and sea lions are also known to visit at Curio BayCurio Bay is also of international significance for its Petrified Forest dating back to the Jurassic period. The tree fossils you see here are similar to Kauri and Matai trees, are estimated to be 170 million years old. The petrified forest has remnants of the tree stumps, covered in an ancient lava flow.

Amazing spot to come and look at wildlife!! You can often see the rare and endangered Hector's Dolphin's swimming off the coast and if you are really lucky you might see a Yellow Eyed Penguin. But be sure you keep more than 50 meters from them as they are very wary of humans. Make sure you don't get in their way or between them and the ocean. They are critically endangered and there isn't many of them left!!!

Wanted to see some penguins but I guess they were hidingA beautiful beach with a lovely view

Absolutely loved seeing this ancient fossilized (petrified)forrest. Definitely worth visiting. Donations accepted for penguin sanctuary but otherwise free access.

Great spot to swim, unfortunately we only saw one seal, but the beach and the rocks are truly beautiful. I reckon the best way to visit that spot is to stay there for the night, either camp or camper van. At least that’s what I will do next time.Can easily spend a few hours there if you are just dropping by.According to the notice board, 5pm is the best timing to see penguins coming home during summer time.

A worthy drive, if time allows. A very rare chance to see penguins, much more the apparently very rare yellow eyed penguins.

Beautiful view. It seems to always be foggy and rainy when I’m there which is a bummer though, the colours would be stunning in the sunlight. Also windy, so wear the right clothes.

Still one of my favourite places. Great views lovely beach one way, rock exploration the other. Facilities to sit and appreciate the view, eat your lunch and take it all in. Cafes close at hand. Dolphins on a nice day swimming beautifully in and out the waves.Spectacular.

A stunning piece of NZ landscape, a must visit to see the petrified forest and we were lucky to observe three rare yellow eyed penguins. Best time to visit is early evening when they return to their nests.