Kakanui can be explored through its coastline, river mouth and geological features. When planning your trip, it is worth considering these different aspects of the area separately: at Campbells Bay, the beach and limestone take centre stage, while at the river mouth, recreation and cultural history come together.
Beaches and Coastal Walk
Campbells Bay is Kakanui’s main beach: the two-kilometre-long beach lies south of the headland. It has surf suitable for surfing; Campbells Bay is also described as a safe swimming beach. All Day Bay, at the southern end of Campbells Bay, is often more sheltered and has less surf. This difference is useful for getting your bearings: Campbells Bay combines beach and surf, while All Day Bay often offers calmer water. Hector’s dolphins also frequently visit Kakanui’s beaches—a possible sighting, not a guarantee on any particular visit.
A coastal walk runs along the northern cliffs between the village of Kakanui and Catseye Point, a coastal reserve managed by the Department of Conservation in North Otago. The walk makes it possible to take a circuit from the village to the headland and back via Kakanui Beach. Along the route, the predator trap line, extended up to the cliffs, helps protect gull and cormorant nesting sites from introduced predators.
Limestone and Coastal Landscape
At Campbells Bay, a geological sequence is visible: Ototara limestone slopes down towards the beach. The holes in the limestone outcrop also have a geological history. They are shrimp burrows that were further eroded and enlarged about 30 million years ago. These visible rock formations are as much a part of the coastal landscape as the beach and surf.
River Mouth: Recreation and Cultural History
The Kakanui River physically divides the settlement into two parts. There is parking, public toilets and a playground at its mouth; check these details again before your trip. The Kakanui Estuary, the river and the surrounding coastal area are used for boating, fishing and birdwatching. The river mouth is also a popular spot for whitebait fishing.
The mouth of the Kakanui River has long been significant to Kāi Tahu whānui as an ancient pā site and a traditional food-gathering place. Foods traditionally gathered there included weka, tuna (eels), tutu and kōareare, the edible root of raupō. Kāi Tahu whānau continue these food-gathering traditions. Midden and other artefacts in Kakanui are also associated with Kāi Tahu’s earlier, temporary use of the area while travelling north and south.
Local History and Produce
Another cultural landmark is the former Kakanui Presbyterian Church. It is a rare example of a timber church designed by the prominent Dunedin architect Robert Arthur Lawson. The church adds another perspective on Kakanui’s cultural heritage to the stories of the river mouth.
The surrounding vegetable gardens also shape the area: they produce large quantities of vegetables that can be bought at roadside stalls. Along with its coastal walks, beach and river mouth, Kakanui can also be experienced through its local produce.
Discover more destinations: Black Point, Deborah, Windsor, Omarama, Tokarahi, Moeraki, Otematata, Hampden.
For the wider travel overview: Waitaki District.
