Natural beauty a haven for wildlife

Shag Point, also known as Matakaea, is a headland and township in East Otago.

The beauty spot is located close to State Highway 1, 9km to the northeast of Palmerston, at the southern end of a long open bay known as Katiki Beach. The point itself is a hilly promontory between Katiki Beach and the mouth of the Shag River. Both the river and point take their name from the shag, a species of cormorant.

Jointly managed by the

Department of Conservation and Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, the area is known for its clifftop viewing areas that allow people to watch New Zealand fur seals and hoiho (yelloweyed penguins) on the flat rock platforms below, and whale and dolphin activity offshore.