Invercargill
- Stewart Island
72 km (45 miles)
Approximately 1 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway/By Sea
Invercargill is Southland's principal centre and the country's southernmost city. It is known for its elegant old department stores and wide, easy-to-navigate streets. Local food specialties include Bluff Oysters and blue cod. The museum has a tuatara house and an excellent exhibition about New Zealand’s subantarctic islands. Take a stroll around the gardens, aviary and duck ponds of Queens Park.
Air and ferry services bridge the gap across Foveaux Strait. The flight to Stewart Island takes only 20 minutes. The ferry trip, which at times can be rough, takes about an hour.
Much of Stewart Island (in Maori, Rakiura) was recently declared New Zealand’s newest national park. Visitors come to the island to enjoy nature at its wildest. Highlights include spotting kiwis on Ocean Beach, walking amidst the birds on Ulva Island and hiking the tracks through the park. Oban, the only major town, offers a variety of accommodation from hotel rooms to lodge retreats. For a potted history of Stewart Island, visit the local museum.
Scenic Highlights
Curio Bay and Slope Point
There are many things to capture your imagination at Curio Bay, including dolphins, penguins and fossilised trees.
Catlins River Walk, Purakaunui Falls and Jack's Blowhole
Combine the Catlins River Walk with visits to Purakaunui Falls and Jack's Blow Hole - it'll be an amazing day.
Stewart Island and Rakiura National Park
Stewart island lies only 30 kilometres off the bottom of the South Island, but it's a world of its own.
Queens Park
Queens Park is Invercargill's pride and joy - a paradise of cool climate gardens and walkways.
Ulva Island / Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve
Prehistoric filter feeding shellfish called brachiopods thrive in Paterson Inlet. They are living fossils from the Palaeozioc period.
Rakiura Track
Hike around New Zealand's newest national park on Stewart Island. Native birds, pristine beaches and unbroken forest cover make this circuit walk a magnificent experience.
Oreti Beach and Sandy Point
Oreti Beach was Burt Munro's race track - a 26 kilometre stretch of perfectly smooth sand.
Activities
Southland
Boat Cruises (4),
Walking/Trekking (9)
Tour and Sightseeing
Southland
Boat Cruises (1),
Walking/Trekking (2)
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