While in Invercargill, sample the famous Bluff Oysters. Bluff has a yearly Oyster Festival. Contact our Reception for further information.
Photo of Bluff Oyster & Southalnd Seafood Festival, supplied by Venture Southland Tourism.
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Invercargill's Queens Park, is the grandest of all the city's parks. Encompassing more than 80 hectares, it offers the visitor the most diverse range of facilities and attractions.
The Park boasts two beautiful and varied rose gardens, a rhododendron dell, an azalea garden, dramatic tree lined walkways, bush paths, a selection of native plants, a Japanese garden, rock and herb gardens. There is an indoor Winter Garden featuring tropical and flowering plants. Queens Park also has an impressive bird aviary, animal enclosures, children's play areas, extensive sporting facilities and a cafe. Also prominent on the ground is the Southland Museum and Art Gallery.
Photo supplied courtesy of Venture Southland Tourism.
With its rich heritage and vibrant central business district, Invercargill's more than just the region's commercial hub and tourist service centre. The City of Water and Light buzzes with the prosperity of a thriving economy, the vivacity of student life and a history that marries the strong Maori and Celtic influence that pioneered the province. Thirty kilometres south, nestled above Foveaux Strait, is the port town, Bluff, home of the iconic Bluff Oyster and a series of short coastal and bush walks. Within a two-hour radius of Invercargill lie a wealth of internationally-acclaimed experiences, making the city the ideal base for those taking day trips. Banks, post offices, supermarkets, gyms, Internet and library facilities are all centrally located, within a short walk of each other. The city has an open feel, a tribute to the forefather's legacy of wide, flowing streets - the cornerstone of Invercargill's unhurried character.
Photo supplied couresty of Venture Southland Tourism
Situated on the edge of Queens Park, the Southland Museum and Art Gallery building is the largest pyramid in the southern hemisphere. Inside there is 500 million years of Southland's natural history and 800 years of its human history.
Three art galleries feature changing displays of local, national and international art, from historical to contemporary. The Subantartic Islands come to life in the gallery entitled 'Beyond the Roaring 40's'. This two part exhibitions also features the exciting 'Audio Visual Experience'. An historical exhibition spanning several galleries richly portrays our past. It includes superb treasures from our Maori prehistory.
The museum is also home to 50 live Tuatara and also has an astronomical observatory. Visit Henry the Tuatara, alongside one of the best public displays of live Tuatara in the world.
The Invercargill i-SITE Visitor Centre and a cafe are located in the museum.
Sport and leisure activities are a big part of life in Invercargill and there is plenty for both the participant and the observer.
A network of paths and tracks through Queens Park in the city centre allows the opportunity for a leisurely walk or for the energetic, a four-kilometre fitness trail. Queens Park is also host to a first cricket wicket within the park grounds. Other sports catered for include bowls, tennis, squash, hockey, golf, croquet and petanque. The Southland Museum & Art Gallery is situated on the edge of Queens Park and is home to historical displays, three art galleries and live Tuatara.
Photo of Water Tower supplied by Venture Southland Tourism.
This 42.5 high city landmark in red brick was completed in 1889 to the design of William Sharp, a former civil engineer for the Public Works Department. The Tower's Romanesque design is emphasised by the polychrome (coloured) brickwork framing the arched windows.
Flying Time from Invercargilll to Stewart Island - 20 minutes. See our Reception for further details.
Photo of Half Moon Bay, Stewart Island supplied by Venture Southland Tourism.
Stretch your legs and wonder at the harmony of nature on one of Invercargill's manageable bush trails. Walk through totara forest at Sandy Point Domain, just 7km west of the city. Experience the native bird-life and climb the sand dunes. Look-out points on the many tracks give fantastic views of the New River Estuary, which borders the domain. Take time to reflect our history. This peninsula was home to early Maori and used by whalers.
Photo of Pied Shag supplied courtesy of Venture Southland Tourism.