New Zealand’s southernmost city offers true hospitality and old-fashioned southern comfort to visitors.

Invercargill has a Scottish heritage like Dunedin and fine Victorian buildings line its wide boulevards. The city makes an excellent base for exploring Fiordland, Queenstown, Catlin’s Coast and Steward Island (Rakiura National Park).

The city has an abundance of parks and reserves, golf courses, cafes, art galleries, theatres and a host of visitor activities as follows:-

Wander through the expansive Queen’s Park
This cool, green retreat has a rhododendron walk, sunken rose garden, winter garden and wildlife sanctuary.

Take the Invercargill City Spirit Walk
This hour long ramble takes in new public artworks, major landmarks and heritage trails.

Drive out to Anderson Park Art Gallery
See quality New Zealand paintings, pottery and sculpture in this stately old home.

Visit the Southland Museum and Art Gallery
See interesting fine art, nautical exhibits, techno-displays and New Zealand’s own dinosaur remnant, the tuatara. This collection is housed in the largest pyramid in the Southern Hemisphere.

Drive down to Bluff, New Zealand’s oldest European town
This port town is home to our most renowned gourmet delicacy, the Bluff oyster and the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, which has public tours.

While in Bluff take the Bluff Hill Circular Walk
Start at the point where Highway One ends at Foveaux Strait and follow the coastline for great views of beaches and offshore islands. Another option is the Glory Walk through lush native bush.

Catch the ferry across to Stewart Island
Take a wilderness walk, a fishing trip, or a guided tour to Ulva Island to view some rare native birds.

Don’t miss out on the rugged coastal strip known as The Catlins
Enjoy the wonderful wildlife surprises with close up views of sea lions, seals, dolphins and penguins in quiet coves along this rugged coast. Curio Bay has a 160 million year old fossilised forest.

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