Don’t Miss

Exploring Invercargill and Bluff

Invercargill is New Zealand's southernmost city and the township of Bluff is famous for its oysters.

• View New Zealand's largest collection of live tuatara (a native New Zealand reptile) at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery
• Wander through the aviary, Japanese garden and rose gardens of Queens Park
• Enjoy examples of historic New Zealand architecture
• Visit the Maritime Museum for an insight into the region's fascinating maritime history

The fascinating world of the Catlins

The Catlins Coast is a place of hidden waterfalls and river valleys, sea mammals and seabirds, rocky coastal bays and tranquil estuaries.

• Of international geological significance is Curio Bay's 180-million-year-old fossilised forest, best viewed at low tide.
• Nugget Point (Tokata) is a place to see three penguin species (including Hoiho, the Yellow-eyed Penguin), Hooker's sea lions, Hector's dolphins, elephant seals and New Zealand fur seals.
• Walk to Purakaunui Falls or do the Catlins River Walk, a five hour beech forest walk between Tawanui and the Wisp
• Hike to the spectacular Cathedral Caves - accessible only at low tide
• Visit the lighthouse at Waipapa Point, scene of New Zealand's worst shipping disaster

Trout fishing, air flights and more

Gore is the brown trout fishing centre of Southland - the Mataura River has the highest population and catch rates of any river in New Zealand.

• Fish the best spots on the Mataura River, and get a guide to show you the other great trout pools in the area
• Visit the Hokonui Moonshine Museum & Eastern Southland Art Gallery
• Take an open cockpit air flight and see restored vintage aircraft at the Croydon Aircraft Company
• Visit the seaside resort of Riverton, just to the west of Invercargill, one of the oldest settlements in New Zealand
• Tuatapere is the home of the Hump Ridge Track - a three-day walking experience through rugged coastline, podocarp and beech forest and spectacular sandstone outcrops