✅ What’s Included
• Expert local guide
• Luxury Mercedes-Benz minibus transport
• Hotel pickup from Dunedin or Te Anau
• Lunch at Papatowai
• Complimentary water and snacks
• All entry fees where applicable

🚫 What’s Not Included
• Dinner
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
• Items of a personal nature

The Catlins has changeable coastal weather year-round.
Summer (Dec–Feb) • Typical daytime: 18–24 °C • Conditions: sunny with sea breezes • Practical note: pack sunscreen and layers
Autumn (Mar–May) • Typical daytime: 14–20 °C • Conditions: mild and green • Practical note: light jacket for wind
Winter (Jun–Aug) • Typical daytime: 10–16 °C • Conditions: cooler with possible rain • Practical note: warm layers and rain jacket
Spring (Sep–Nov) • Typical daytime: 14–20 °C • Conditions: wildflowers and variable • Practical note: comfortable walking shoes

Documents & Essentials
• Photo ID and booking confirmation

Clothing (layered for coastal conditions)
• Comfortable walking shoes for short walks
• Light layers, windproof jacket and hat
• Rain jacket (weather can change quickly)

Toiletries & First Aid
• Sunscreen, lip balm and personal toiletries
• Any personal medication

Electronics
• Charged phone and camera

Accessories & Nice-to-Haves
• Small daypack
• Reusable water bottle

The Catlins is one of New Zealand’s most pristine and wild coastal regions, full of native forest, dramatic cliffs and rare wildlife.

Nugget Point is famous for its lighthouse and the “nuggets” – rocky islets that create stunning ocean views.

Purakaunui Falls is one of the South Island’s most photographed waterfalls, easily reached by a short forest track.

Curio Bay protects a rare prehistoric petrified forest and is home to yellow-eyed penguins and Hector’s dolphins.

The Lost Gypsy Caravan in Papatowai is a quirky café and art installation loved by locals and visitors alike.

Local guides are passionate about sharing the area’s Māori and European history as well as wildlife facts.

The route connects Dunedin and Te Anau, making it a perfect link for South Island travellers.

Wildlife sightings are common but never guaranteed – your guide will help you spot animals responsibly.

Carbon Footprint & Offset Report: Catlins Day Tour Dunedin Te Anau: Lighthouses, Falls & Wildlife

Quick Snapshot

Estimated CO₂e footprint per participant: 160 kg CO₂e
(higher-end conservative estimate – covers all on-tour impacts plus average local travel to/from Dunedin or Te Anau pickup points)

Our 200% offset commitment per booking: 320 kg CO₂e
Funded through genuine landscape restoration in climate-vulnerable developing regions (reforestation, mangroves, soil regeneration, etc.). This creates real net-positive impact beyond neutrality.

Tour summary

• 11-hour full-day scenic tour (one-way Dunedin ↔ Te Anau)
• Small group – max 16 guests
• Starts with hotel pickup from Dunedin or Te Anau; ends with drop-off at the other location
• Luxury Mercedes-Benz air-conditioned minibus
• No accommodation included
• Meals: Lunch at Papatowai (local produce) + complimentary snacks and water
• Highlights: Nugget Point Lighthouse (ocean views, sea lions & seabirds), Purakaunui Falls (short forest walk), The Lost Gypsy Caravan café, Curio Bay (petrified forest, yellow-eyed penguins & Hector’s dolphins), scenic Catlins coastal drive with flexible photo stops

Overview

This report estimates the carbon footprint for one individual participant on this tour using higher-end data from trusted sources. We intentionally choose upper-range figures to fully cover every impact – including hard-to-measure parts like supply chains and indirect effects.

We then double it (200%) and fund genuine landscape restoration projects in developing and climate-affected regions worldwide. This goes beyond standard offsetting to deliver real, lasting benefits for ecosystems and communities.

All figures in kg CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent – the standard measure that includes all greenhouse gases).

Tour Details

• Duration: 11 hours
• Key locations: Dunedin or Te Anau start/end, Nugget Point Lighthouse, Purakaunui Falls, Papatowai, Curio Bay
• Travel style: Scenic one-way day tour with short guided walks and wildlife viewing
• Assumptions: Average participant, standard behaviours, higher-impact choices where uncertain. Local travel to Dunedin or Te Anau pickup points is factored into the higher-end footprint for completeness.

Calculation Approach

• Sources: UK DEFRA 2025 conversion factors, Australian National Greenhouse Accounts 2024, UNWTO tourism data, IPCC guidelines, and peer-reviewed studies.
• Higher-end scale: Upper-range emission factors everywhere, plus well-to-tank fuel effects, +20% uncertainty buffer, and conservative assumptions for scenic minibus operations in the Catlins.
• Per person, full tour experience.
• Excludes only purely personal extras (e.g. souvenirs or optional drinks).

Detailed Emissions Breakdown (per participant)

Transportation – 100 kg CO₂e

• Average local travel to/from Dunedin or Te Anau pickup points (higher-end mix of car, taxi or short transfers): 25 kg
• All on-tour luxury Mercedes-Benz minibus transfers (~300–350 km scenic one-way, shared small group): 75 kg – higher-end diesel factor with realistic low-occupancy buffer

Accommodation – 0 kg CO₂e

• Day tour only – no overnight stay

Meals & Food – 35 kg CO₂e

• Included lunch (local produce at Papatowai) + complimentary snacks and water (tourism-level portions and waste): 35 kg

Activities & Excursions – 25 kg CO₂e

• Short guided forest walk to Purakaunui Falls, wildlife viewing, lighthouse and Curio Bay exploration, commentary

TOTAL ESTIMATED FOOTPRINT PER PERSON: 160 kg CO₂e

Our 200% Offset Commitment

• Amount we will offset: 2 × 160 kg = 320 kg CO₂e per individual booking
• How: Direct funding of landscape restoration projects – reforestation, mangrove protection, regenerative agriculture, wetland and soil carbon restoration
• Where: Developing countries and regions most affected by climate change (e.g. Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America) for maximum global benefit and community co-benefits
• Why 200% and higher-end estimates: To guarantee coverage despite any measurement discrepancies and to create genuine extra positive impact

Important Notes

• Numbers are deliberately conservative (higher) so we over-deliver on restoration – real footprint may be lower
• The tour already has strong sustainability practices (small groups, low-impact visitation, respect for natural sites); our independent higher-end analysis adds extra certainty
• Carbon accounting has natural uncertainties – doubling it is the responsible way
• This directly supports long-term carbon-sequestering landscapes and local communities

How many people are in the group?
Maximum 16 guests for a personal and comfortable experience.

Is lunch included?
Yes, lunch is included at Papatowai with local produce.

Do I need to be fit?
The tour is easy to moderate with short walks. Comfortable shoes are recommended.

Can I start from either end?
Yes – the tour runs in both directions (Dunedin to Te Anau or Te Anau to Dunedin) on different days.

Is transport included?
Yes, luxury Mercedes-Benz minibus for the entire day.

What wildlife might I see?
Yellow-eyed penguins, sea lions, Hector’s dolphins and various seabirds.

What happens if it rains?
The tour runs in all weather – your guide will adjust stops for the best experience.

Where does the tour start and end?
Hotel pickup from Dunedin or Te Anau and drop-off at the opposite end.

Are there any dietary options?
Most requirements can be accommodated if advised at booking.

Is the ferry involved?
No – this is a road-based tour via the Catlins.