Discover Invercargill

Invercargill is full of surprises. Its wide streets are furnished with fabulous heritage buildings, there's a well-developed food and coffee culture, and you can see Burt Munro's 'World's Fastest Indian' at a local hardware store. And if you're visiting during the Bluff Oyster season, deciding what to have as a starter won't be difficult.

From Invercargill it's easy to launch into the beautiful landscapes of Southland. There's Stewart Island to discover, as well as the Catlins and Fiordland. Crowds are non-existent and the skies seem bigger somehow. It all adds up to a huge, scenery-intensive holiday experience.

About our flights to Invercargill

Air New Zealand operates non-stop flights to Invercargill from Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, with connections across the New Zealand domestic network. With all our New Zealand domestic airfares you can choose seat, seat+bag, flexichange or flexirefund fare types. Flexichange gives you the flexibility to change your flight with no change fees while flexirefund is fully refundable. Find out more about our New Zealand domestic seat options.

Discover Invercargill's history and culture

If you're fond of machinery, motorcycles and amazing old cars, Invercargill is a holiday destination made in heaven. Top exhibit is the World's Fastest Indian, the modified Indian motorcycle that in 1967 secured a world speed record that still stands today. Then there's Classic Motorcycle Mecca, a museum devoted entirely to two-wheel motorised transport. And if cars are more your thing, Bill Richardson Transport World has a treasure trove of vintage motor vehicles dating back as far as 1902.

You can also enjoy the history of Invercargill by following the heritage trail. There are some extraordinary old buildings around the city streets, as well as elegant Queens Park with its fine gate, statues and band rotunda.

While you're holidaying in Southland, listen out for the rolled Rs of the locals. Many Scottish migrants settled in the area between 1840 and the 1970s, and their legacy lives on through the local accent. Of the place names in Invercargill, around 40% can be found in Scotland or are based on Scottish family names. More about heritage and culture.

Exploring Southland

The capital of Southland has got something for everyone. Invercargill Central has undergone major redevelopments, with a new shopping centre, restaurants, bars, hotel and much more to come, making it a place full of vibrance. Oreti Beach is a coastal playground just minutes from the city's centre. A sandy beach stretches as far as the eye can see, with views of the surrounding Takitimu mountains and Stewart Island.

From Invercargill there are some extraordinary nature experiences within easy reach. First up is Stewart Island, accessible by ferry from Bluff or by air from Invercargill. Here you can go hiking or fishing in an environment that is mostly as it's always been - untouched. Rakiura National Park occupies much of the island and the main town is Oban. For kiwi watching and other bird-related experiences, Stewart Island is unbeatable.

Wildlife encounters come with the territory. The Catlins region is home to fur seals, yellow-eyed penguins, dolphins, elephant seals and many kinds of seabird.

Another big Southland adventure is the road journey from Invercargill to Dunedin, a strip of coast known as The Catlins. The scenery is enthralling - wild surf beaches, lush forests, lonely lighthouses, a petrified forest of ancient trees, waterfalls and dramatic rock formations. Wildlife encounters come with the territory. This coast is home to fur seals, yellow-eyed penguins, dolphins, elephant seals and many kinds of seabird.

Your final Southland frontier is the eastern edge of Fiordland, where you'll come to the lakeside towns of Manapouri and Te Anau. Cruise Lake Manapouri or embark on a kayaking and sailing expedition to the fiords. Te Anau entertainments include a bird sanctuary, walking the Kepler Track, caving and horse treks. On the way to or from Fiordland, you could walk the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, something of a legend in the hiking world and soon to be New Zealand's newest Great Walk. It leads you to beach, forest and sub alpine scenery, with historic wooden viaducts for added interest along the way. More about exploring Southland.

Southland events

Events in and around Invercargill are invariably as unique as the region. There's the Burt Munro Challenge in February, a motorcycle event that encompasses all kinds of on and off-road races; Heritage Harvest Festival in March, at the seaside town of Riverton; Hop 'n' Vine in April, which honours craft beers and boutique wines; the very famous Bluff Oyster and Food Festival in May, a celebration of Southland's amazing seafood; and the Tussock Country Festival in June, where the town of Gore revels in a week of outstanding country music.

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