Southland

Superb outdoor adventures, unforgettable wildlife encounters and warm southern hospitality in a ruggedly beautiful landscape.

In the deep south of New Zealand, the Southland region offers breathtaking scenery, from pristine waterfalls and rugged coastlines to windswept emerald-green hills, combined with a famously warm southern welcome. Invercargill is the region’s cosmopolitan hub and it’s known for its excellent eateries and for its wonderful museum. Get further off the beaten track with a visit to Stewart Island. New Zealand’s third largest island is a unique destination offering unspoilt wilderness and abundant native wildlife – including the precious opportunity to see native kiwi foraging in the wild at dusk.

DO IT. Fly or catch a boat to Stewart Island, take a photo at Stirling Point, visit the Tuatara at Southland Museum and Art Gallery, sample delicious Bluff oysters, hike the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, experience great local cuisine at the Bluff Oyster and Southland Food Festival in May.

Destinations

Invercargill Main centre of the Southland region.
Bluff New Zealand’s southernmost settlement, famous for Bluff Oysters.
Stewart Island The smallest of New Zealand’s three main islands.
The Catlins Coastal area famed for beaches, walks and wildlife.

Getting there and around

Air Invercargill Airport offers domestic flights to and from Christchurch International Airport. It does not offer any direct international flights. Flights to Stewart Island are available and take approximately 20 minutes. There are also flight-seeing options, including the opportunity to fly from Invercargill and land on a Stewart Island beach.
Road Invercargill is located at the southern end of State Highway 1. The town is 3 hours, 10 minutes from Dunedin and 8 hours, 30 minutes from Christchurch. Several coach companies provide scheduled services to the region. There is a good choice of rental car companies.
Ferry Stewart Island is a 1-hour boat trip from Bluff. Charters and water taxis operate around the island.

Insider's tip

Take the time to make the trip across to Stewart Island – it really is unique in New Zealand.

Stewart Island

New Zealand’s third largest island is an unspoilt wilderness where native birds thrive. In 2002, its unique qualities were recognised with the formation of Rakiura National Park, comprising 85% of the island. Birdwatchers find it magnetic, but visitors from every walk of life are spellbound by the isolated beauty of Stewart Island.