January 08, 2021
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 cliff-top viewing areas that allow people to watch New Zealand fur seals and hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) on the flat rock platforms below, and whale and dolphin activity offshore.
