Lookout
Lookout sits at 688 ft on the Southland & the Catlins byway, facing 270°. The land drops 97 ft within 600 m of the overlook. From this point, Paddock Hill is visible to the west-southwest at 3.4 mi (2,969 ft), Freestone Hill to the northwest at 4.0 mi (1,102 ft), and Mount Moturau to the west at 9.7 mi (4,911 ft). The view faces directly toward the sunset, with no offset from due west. Sunset times vary by season: 20:04 at the March equinox, 17:12 at the June solstice, 18:46 at the September equinox, and 21:39 at the December solstice. This lookout follows Boulder Reach Lookout and precedes Lookout 2 along the byway.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Paddock Hill2,969 ftwest-southwest · 3.4 mi
- Freestone Hill1,102 ftnorthwest · 4.0 mi
- Mount Moturau4,911 ftwest · 9.7 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunset — 0° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:51 | 20:04 | 19:25 |
| June solstice | 08:31 | 17:12 | 16:22 |
| September equinox | 06:41 | 18:46 | 18:06 |
| December solstice | 05:57 | 21:39 | 20:53 |
Local time (Pacific/Auckland). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
Take the scenic way to Lookout.
Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.
How high is Lookout?
Lookout sits at about 688 feet (210 m).
What can you see from Lookout?
From Lookout: Paddock Hill (WSW, 3.4 mi); Freestone Hill (NW, 4.0 mi); Mount Moturau (W, 9.7 mi).
Is Lookout better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. The land falls away from Lookout toward the sunset, so at sunrise the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the next lookout after Lookout?
Lookout 2 is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Lookout.
Drive to Lookout with Byway
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Byways with this lookout
Locals make it Verified.
Lookout — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
Confirmed by locals
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Field notes
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