Come and experience the warmth and hospitality of Invercargill. The City’s Victorian and Edwardian architecture and heritage buildings adds rich character. Famous for its free Tertiary institution Southern Institute of Technology and of course our long-time mayor Tim Shadbolt. The city offers a gateway to all of Southland.
For more information, please visit:   www.invercargillnz.com

Just 20 minutes drive from Invercargill is New Zealand’s southernmost town, Bluff.
As Southland’s deep water port, Bluff is home to a large fishing fleet and an array of seafood including crayfish, blue cod and the world famous and delectable Bluff oyster. Bluff Oysters are harvested from March until August or until the allocated annual quota is achieved. Southland’s premier event, the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival is held annually during oyster season and attracts huge numbers of locals and visitors alike. To find out more about Bluff visit www.bluff.co.nz

Stewart Island is a very popular tourist destination for New Zealanders and tourists alike. It can be reached by ferry (1hour), helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft(15-20 minutes).
The permanent residents of Rakiura value the Island’s special qualities – its clear, clean waters, the lush rainforest, sweeping sands, flora and fauna and the unspoilt natural beauty that are constant in their lives.
Whether you come to enjoy the land and seascapes, view the wildlife, walk, boat, fish, dive, kayak, hunt or just relax, a Stewart Island holiday will be an experience that will draw you back again and again.  For more information, visit www.stewartisland.co.nz

The Catlins’ beauty and seclusion is magnetic. It has an untouched quality that separates it from other destinations. The area is renowned for its rugged beauty and access to wildlife. Yellow-eyed penguins can be seen making their way to their coastal nests, while Hectors Dolphins play in the waves.

Nugget Point is the only place on mainland New Zealand where fur seals, sea lions and elephant seals co-exist. These amazing creatures can frequently be seen sunning themselves on the rocks on various Catlins beaches. The area’s many walking tracks provide access to some special scenic, historic and culturaly significant sites. You will journey through podocarp forest, past rugged coastlines, hidden lakes and stunning waterfalls. Slope Point, the southernmost point of the south Island, has windswept trees and a magnificent view over the southern ocean.

Visitors are stunned at what Gore – population just 9500 – has to offer. Locals are the first to admit, rural Southland’s the last place you’d probably expect such a considerable mix of cultural and historic nuggets.

Gore has a vibrant arts and heritage precinct with hugely popular events such as the Hokonui Fashion Awards and the Gold Guitars. Prepare to be impressed by the town’s art gallery. The envy of major cities, the gallery holds several prestigious private collections. In 2003, the Eastern Southland Art Gallery firmly stamped itself on New Zealand’s art trail, unveiling the John Money Wing, home to the renowned sexologist’s extensive private collection. It’s a diverse display of 300 major New Zealand, Australian, Aboriginal, African and contemporary American works. The gallery alone attracts thousands of art lovers, astonished at the breadth and significance of the permanent exhibition.  To find out more about Gore, visit destination Gore Nz.

Summer days in Western Southland stretch into endless twilights, tinged by magenta and gold sunsets that last, quite literally, for hours.

Heading west along the Southern Scenic Route, from Invercargill, leads you to Southland’s western reaches and some of the most fertile land of this incredibly arable province.

Central Southland is the heart of Southland and its main town, Winton, is the centre for the local farming community. Spend your day wandering through the array of gift and clothing shops and enjoy the fresh local cuisine at one of the country cafes.

Central Southland is dotted with towns that cater for both the strong farming community and the many visitors who pass through. Along the way you’ll find arts and crafts and charming eateries, all while experiencing real, heartland New Zealand.

The region also offers a variety of leisurely pursuits and attractions. Those keen to be carried back to another time will appreciate the heritage trail which takes in historic townships and treasures left by the region’s pioneers.

For more information about Winton, explore their website here.

Northern Southland is flanked by beautiful rolling farmland and rivers brimming with trout. It’s a great place to experience southern high country hospitality or try your hand at fishing.

Few anglers can resist the lure – clear, clean rivers and streams, teeming with trout, ribbon the area. Northern Southland is the source of the internationally renowned Mataura River, a beacon on any keen fisher’s map. Dozens of top fishing spots are easily accessible, but, so numerous are the waterways, chances are you’ll cast for kilometres without coming across another soul.

Fiordland is renowned as the home of Mitre Peak and the awe-inspiring fiords of Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.

Fiordland’s extraordinary scenic beauty and wide range of activities makes it a world class sightseeing and walking destination and a ‘Must See’ for anyone travelling to New Zealand.

Imagine standing high in the mountains, looking over a vast landscape of soaring peaks, glistening fiords, and mighty rivers winding through native rainforest. Here colossal waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres into ice-carved valleys and the pure air echoes with birdlife.