Frasers Beach Climbing

The Catlins seacliffs tend to be of poor quality rock, aside from the odd bits of petrified wood. Frasers is a bit different in that a layer of very hard blue sandstone is exposed for much of the cliff at beach level making for some quite good and somewhat unique bouldering. When walking up to the cliff, do not be disappointed by the soft crumbly rock you first encounter; keep going, it gets much better a little further on. At high tide the surf reaches the base of the cliff making it inaccessible, so time a visit accordingly. The constant sandblasting results in very smooth, clean, wildly sculpted features. No need for a brush, and most landings are in sand making a pad optional, although something to wipe the sand off your shoes is nice. The cliff tends to have a lot of water running down the face after wet weather, but there are plenty of sections that stay dry. The cliff is in shade most of the day and there will be sandflies about. Occasionally you might encounter someone fishing on the beach, but in several years of going there I have never seen any sign of anyone else having been climbing, so you will have the place all to yourself, and there is enough there to keep anyone occupied for an afternoon.