Invercargill
New Zealand · Southland · 6 m
Description
Invercargill (Waihōpai) is New Zealand's southernmost city and the anchor of the Southland region. It spreads across a flat plain beside the Waihōpai estuary, laid out in broad Victorian streets named after Scottish rivers. Queens Park fills a large block near the centre, with gardens, an aviary and a tuatara enclosure. The city is known for its motoring heritage, from Burt Munro's record-breaking Indian to vast private vehicle collections. Wind off Foveaux Strait keeps the air cool and the sky wide. Oreti Beach runs for kilometres of open sand west of town. Invercargill is the gateway to Bluff, Stewart Island and the Catlins.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: January – February
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Bill Richardson Transport World
- Queens Park
- Stirling Point signpost at Bluff(Day trip)
- E Hayes and Sons and the World's Fastest Indian
- Classic Motorcycle Mecca
- Te Moutere Tuatara Island enclosure
- Oreti Beach
- Bluff oysters (March - August)
- Bluff Hill / Motupōhue lookout(Day trip)
- Invercargill Water Tower
- Stewart Island ferry from Bluff(Day trip)
- Anderson Park
- Sandy Point Domain walking tracks
- Bluff Oyster and Food Festival (approx. May)(Day trip)
- Burt Munro Challenge (approx. February)
- Bluff Maritime Museum(Day trip)
- Awarua Wetlands and Waituna Lagoon(Day trip)
Getting there
- Airports:
- IVC
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry