New Zealand Sea Lions Beach Waipapa Point Catlins
Photo & Vacation Spot

A pair of New Zealand Sea Lions sit along the beach at low tide at Waipapa Point in the Catlins in Southland on the South Island of New Zealand.

Deciding whether to rest on the beach or head back towards the water, two New Zealand Sea Lions stand at alert at Waipapa Point in the Catlins in Southland on the South Island of New Zealand. At low tide, the seaweed, rocks and kelp are bared as the waves crash against the rocky landscape which juts out into the water in the backdrop.

Waipapa Point is a very solitude area and the New Zealand Sea Lions haul themselves onto the beach quite regularly to bask in the sun. Any strange activity or the presence of humans makes the sea lions leery and visitors should keep their distance as these animals are extremely powerful. The male species can reach 450 kilograms with the female being much smaller in size at around 160 kilograms.

New Zealand Sea Lions (also known as Hooker's Sea Lions), Phocarctos hookeri, along the beach at Waipapa Point in the Catlins along the Catlin's Highway, Southern Scenic Route, Southland, South Island, East Coast, New Zealand.