Invercargill is New Zealand’s Southernmost City and its wide streets and friendly disposition invite the visitor to the cold environment like a warm blanket. Enriched in Scottish history and formed by Victorian, Edwardian and Art deco heritage buildings, Invercargill has an excellent range of shops and a selection of welcoming bars and restaurants. The people of the South are among the most hospitable in the country and the accommodation is plentiful and of good quality at a reasonable price.

The City has many fine Museums, art galleries and parks. The chief attraction here is The Southland Museum and Art Gallery. It houses New Zealand’s largest collection of live Tuatara (A native New Zealand reptile) and also contains a sub-antarctic section focusing on New Zealand’s sub Antarctic islands and the wildlife and expeditions which frequent these areas both today and in the past. The Art Gallery at Anderson Park exhibits quality art from the far south and throughout New Zealand. Further on Queens Park provides 80 hectares of beautiful and varied gardens including expansive rose gardens, a Japanese garden and impressive bird aviary. Splash palace is also within the grounds, a massive Aquatic Centre with a 50 metre sports pool and hydro slide. Children will be entertained in the leisure pool under the waterfalls where they can experience the feeling of surf, while you unwind at the coffee shop overlooking the pools.

Dining in the South is a great experience. Bluff oysters, Blue Cod and the local delicacy of Muttonbird are all menu specialties and local bands frequent the City’s hotels and bars. Just 27km from Invercargill is the fishing town of Bluff and the departure point for ferries to Stewart Island. Call in to the Maritime Museum for historical displays of the Whaling days, oyster harvesting and shipwrecks. There are also some decent walks in the area including the Bluff Hill Lookout with its 360 degree views encompassing Stewart Island. Bluff is home to the succulent Bluff Oyster and a flourishing harbour exports and imports a variety of goods including timber, meat, fish and wool. Keep an eye out for specials down on the wharf area and soak in the atmosphere of this rugged piece of Southland history.

Venture up to the Caitlans Coast while you are down this way for an unforgettable experience in Natural wonders. The coast is home to penguins, dolphins, seals and sea lion, whales and an abundance of birdlife. Visit Curio bay’s 180 million year old fossilised forest, take one of the many walks, or hike to the spectacular Cathedral caves- accessible at low tide. Lighthouses are a feature of the area, especially the lighthouse at Waipapa Point, scene of New Zealand’s worst shipping disaster.

With its cultural attractions, nature reserves and parks, Invercargill is a great place to visit. Horse riding, kayaking, jet boating, trout fishing and boat cruises are all available throughout the area and an abundance of guided tours and sightseeing trips ensure you won’t miss a thing. Invercargill is the gateway to some of the most beautiful spots in the country and the mixture of historical flavours and the City’s modern vibrant heart combine for a memorable experience which is New Zealand at its purest.

Invercargill