Popular Things to do on the South Shore of Kauai

If you’re looking for things to do on the South Shore of Kauai you’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re staying down south or visiting for the day, we have a list of the best things to do on Kauai’s South Shore.

If you’re looking for tips on what to do on the North Side of Kauai, check out this post!

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Things to do on Kauai’s South Shore

Tours

• Allerton Garden– Located in the Lawai Valley, Allerton Garden is one of the most famous botanical gardens in Kauai featuring a collection of outdoor ‘rooms’ made from plants, water features and sculptures. Learn more or schedule a guided tour of Allerton Garden here.
• McBryde Garden– See native plants and rare species on a self-guided tour. Learn more or schedule a tour of McBryde Garden here.

Find out more about unique tours on Kauai in this post!

Shopping

A favorite thing to do on the South Shore is of course shopping! There are several neat places to go to find souvenirs, trip necessities, or even just window shop! You can also grab a bite to eat at these places, or to visit this post to see more South Shore Kauai Restaurants.

• Old Koloa Town– This charming selection of shops is located in Historic Koloa Town. It’s the original plantation-era shopping village that has been lovingly restored. Find everything from clothing and jewelry to fine art and home decor. Learn more about the history of Old Koloa Town, the shops and location by visiting their website.
• Poipu Shopping Village– nestled in the heart of Poipu, discover unique shops, boutiques and restaurants. It’s a fun place to explore and see what the shops have to offer. Take a look at the Poipu Shopping Village Kauai website to learn more about what they offer.
• The Shops at Kukui’ula– right down the road from Poipu Shopping Village, most of these shops have a more upscale feel. Art galleries, clothing and jewelry boutiques, and spa products are a few of the offerings here, along with restaurants, realty and other services. Check out The Shops at Kukui’ula website to see their offerings.

Free things to do on the South Shore of Kauai

Kauai South Shore Beaches

One of my absolute favorite free things to do on Kauai is visit the gorgeous beaches and dip my toes in the water. Kauai beaches are absolutely stunning, and bring a sense of peace that I have never felt anywhere else. Some of the South Shore Kauai beaches can get crowded, but it also depends on when you go.

• Shipwreck Beach-Approximately 8 miles of gorgeous beach known for surfing and cliff jumping. *Note: The currents are strong here, if you’re not a strong swimmer or experienced surfer, please enjoy the beach safely. Consider sunbathing, whale watching or a nice walk on the beach.
• Poipu Beach– One of the most popular beaches on the South shore, it gets super busy, especially at sunset. View Monk Seals and Sea Turtles right on the beach (Stay 10 feet away at all times, it’s the law!). If crowds bother you, get up early and head down first thing in the morning. This is what we did and there were only a few other people on the beach with us, it was amazing.
• Brennecke’s Beach– Right down the road from Poipu Beach, this is a popular place for boogie boarding and body surfing for visitors and locals alike.

Wildlife

Kauai has an abundance of wildlife, both on the island and in the Ocean, that you will no doubtably see at some point when you visit. Everything from dolphins, whales and seals to turtles, birds and feral wildlife.

• Dolphins: Spinner, Striped and Bottlenose
• Whales: Sperm, Humpback and Pygmy Killer
• Hawaiian Monk Seals
• Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles
• Birds: Nene geese, Hawaiian Stilt, Hawaiian Crow
• Feral Wildlife: goats, pigs, cows, cats, dogs and chickens

Tree Tunnel

Driving through the tree tunnel that runs for three miles on Maluhia Road is a magical experience. 500 Eucalyptus trees surround you as the sunlight shines through (or rain spills through). You will definitely want to take this road if you’re headed down south to Koloa or Poipu, you won’t regret it!

Spouting Horn

Visiting Spouting Horn Beach Park is one of the most fun things to do in Kauai for free. The park is beautiful, with trees and flowers. See a spray of water spout into the air through a blowhole (actually there are more than one) and watch the water crash against the rocks. It’s an amazing sight to see and a truly unique experience that won’t cost you a cent.

Kukui’ula Small Boat Harbor

Located between Poipu Beach and Spouting Horn, Kukui’ula Harbor is a great place to hang out, have a picnic and enjoy the water. There are picnic tables, restrooms and a covered picnic area.

I hope this post has given you some good ideas about the things to do on the South Shore of Kauai. Let us know which ones you’re planning on doing on your next trip to The Garden Isle!