Looks like you'll have luck with the low tides if you go this coming week --

http://www.niwa.cri.nz/services/tides

I used "Bluff" as the location and got the following low tide times. You could also use the cursor to get more accurate info. Have fun!

If you leave by 10am you could easily get into Queenstown by 8pm, with lots of stops! And there'll be bright daylight for you.
(Pure driving time from Dunedin to Invercargill thru Catlins = 3.5 hrs; Invercargill to Queenstown = 2+ hours)

For more info you could email Jane at [email protected] She gave me the url.

Jan 14 - 10am
Jan 15 - 11am
Jan 16 - 12N
Jan 17 - 1pm
Jan 18 - 2pm
Jan 19 - 3pm
Jan 20 - 4pm
Jan 21 - 5pm
Jan 22 - 5:40pm
Jan 23 - 6:22pm
Jan 24 - 7pm
Jan 25 - 7:38pm

- Kat

Hi!
I'm using the niwa tides as well, and these are my findings:

Nugget Point: refer to Nugget Point

Curio Bay / Porpoise Bay: refer to Waikawa

Cathedral Caves: it's midway btn Waikawa & Nugget Point (or about an hour later than Bluff)

Thank you both so much. You'll see my reply on the other post... I am feeling stupid and so don't understand why I need to be certain places at low tide. DUH is me! But my date for the drive is Feb 3. This weekend I'll be winging across the Pacific. I did have a quick look at the charts , but will have to study it when I am not so frazzled trying to get everythng done around here. I thought I had everything under control, but now I'm on overload... bath the dog... leave notes for family regarding looking after house..... notes for myself....etc...

Low tide on Feb 3 would be at somewhere around 2-3pm. You need the low tide in order to be able to walk to and enter the Cathedral Caves, otherwise you'll be swimming The gates would be open two hours before and after low tide.

Also you'll need the low tide in order to see the petrified forest.

Kat

Ohhhh! Thank you KAT.
I'll have to figure out how far along the Cathedral Caves and the forest are and then hopefully be able to adjust my departure time so I hit it just right.
I'll print out this post too. Thanks again for all the help.