Curio Bay is of international significance for its fossilised forest dating back to the Jurassic period. The tree fossils you see here are 160 million years old and the forest was alive when New Zealand was part of Gondwanaland. Overlooking Curio Bay. What a spectacular view!

Curio Bay’s fossil forest is best viewed at low tide from the viewing platform which is only a short walk (5 minutes) from the car park. Please do not damage or remove any fossils. You may also see protected yellow-eyed penguins at Curio Bay in the late afternoon as they come ashore after a day at sea. Please be sure to read the Department of Conservation information on these protected birds.

From Curio Bay you could take a short walk to Porpoise Bay where you may see the endangered Hector's dolphins playing in the surf during summer months.