Slope Point Trees: Beauty Created by Force of Nature
There are a lot of unusual sight around the globe, but Slope Point of New Zealand is differently natural wonder. Slope Point is the southernmost tip on New Zealand’s South Island. The place is systematically blasted by great force of cold wind, that causes the trees to bend and transform their appearance. The wind from the Southern Ocean attacked the trees, as they grew. In order to be least resistant, the tree brunches turned to the opposite direction, so they got windswept appearance.
Slope Point is not inhabited, for obvious reasons, but sheep still wander around. There are a few shelter built by farmers to protect animals from gusty winds.
There is a small signpost, that has the distance to the Equator and the South Pole written on it. Since, there is no road to Slope Point, it takes 20 minutes to reach it.
Beauty created by force of nature, breathtaking steep cliffs and lush fields, will leave visitors amazed; well, in a good weather of course.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Slope Point, The Catlins, Southland, New Zealand
- Coordinates
- -46.67429, 169.0016
- Access
- The Catlins visitor board says the signpost and cliff edge are reached by an easy, flat walk across private farmland; it is about 10 minutes each way from the car park. Do not cross the farm when sheep are present during the September–November lambing season; keep to the marked route and respect livestock.
- Admission
- The Catlins regional visitor listing publishes no admission charge. The route crosses private farmland and seasonal closure applies, so confirm that access is open before going; an unlisted price is not permission to enter.
- Time needed
- The official Catlins visitor page says the car park-to-signpost walk takes 10 minutes each way. Explore Invercargill's July 2026 guide says about 20 minutes each way. These sources disagree; allow roughly 20–40 minutes for the return walk, plus time at the viewpoint, and check current track conditions.
- Best season
- The Catlins visitor board says there is no public access during September–November lambing when sheep are present. This is an access restriction, not an official climate-based best-season recommendation; check locally before setting out.
- Opening hours
- No daily opening hours are published by the Catlins visitor board. Public access is prohibited during September–November lambing when sheep are present; confirm current farm access before travel.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-10
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-10
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