Southland is where New Zealand runs out of road and starts running on raw beauty. This is the deep south — Murihiku, the tail end of the land — where the skies are bigger, the people are warmer, and the wildlife doesn't know what a crowd looks like. From the world-famous Bluff oyster to kiwi birds that outnumber humans on Stewart Island, from the untouched Catlins coast to Invercargill's surprisingly excellent museums, Southland rewards anyone willing to venture beyond the tourist trail. Most visitors drive straight through to Queenstown or Fiordland. The smart ones stop.
Invercargill — Heart of the South
Invercargill is New Zealand's southernmost city and the gateway to everything Southland has to offer. It's a city of wide streets, grand heritage buildings, and a quietly proud community with strong Scottish roots. Most travellers pass through on the way to Stewart Island or the Catlins, but there's enough here to fill a solid day — and the food is better than you'd expect.
Bill Richardson Transport World
This is Invercargill's standout attraction and it's genuinely world-class. What started as one man's passion for collecting trucks has become the largest private automotive museum of its kind in the world, with over 300 vehicles spread across a massive 15,000-square-metre complex on Tay Street. Even if you have zero interest in vehicles, the museum surprises with themed bathrooms so creative they've featured in books, a LEGO room, wearable art displays, interactive zones for kids, and a recreation of the iconic yellow Mini from the classic New Zealand film Goodbye Pork Pie. Allow two to three hours. Adults around $40 NZD. Open daily 10 am to 5 pm.
E Hayes & Sons — The World's Fastest Indian
Across town at E Hayes & Sons (a hardware store, of all places), you'll find the actual Indian Scout motorcycle that Burt Munro rode to set a world land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967 — a record that still stands. The story was immortalised in the 2005 film The World's Fastest Indian starring Anthony Hopkins. The motorcycle sits pride of place in a working hardware store — it's a beautifully New Zealand experience. Free to view.
Queens Park
This 80-hectare park right in the centre of Invercargill is a locals' favourite. Rose gardens, a Japanese garden, an aviary with native birds, a golf course, tennis courts, and walking trails — all free. It's a lovely spot for a morning walk or a picnic, and gives you a sense of how much green space Invercargill has for a city its size.
Bluff — End of the Road
Thirty kilometres south of Invercargill lies Bluff — New Zealand's southernmost mainland settlement and a town with a reputation that far outweighs its size. This is where State Highway 1 begins (or ends, depending on your perspective), and where one of the country's most celebrated culinary traditions lives.
Stirling Point Signpost
The iconic signpost at Stirling Point shows distances to major cities around the world — London 18,958 km, New York 15,008 km, the South Pole 4,810 km. It's the classic "end of the road" photo opportunity and one of the most photographed signs in New Zealand. A short walk from the signpost takes you along the coast with views across Foveaux Strait to Stewart Island.
Bluff Oysters
The Bluff oyster (Tiostrea chilensis) is harvested from one of the few remaining natural oyster beds in the world, lying on the floor of Foveaux Strait. The season typically runs from March to August, and during that window you'll find them in restaurants and fish shops across the South Island — but they taste best here, as close to the source as you can get.
The annual Bluff Oyster & Food Festival (23 May 2026) is one of the biggest food events in New Zealand. Thousands descend on the town for a day of oyster shucking competitions, seafood, live music, and wasabi-and-chilli challenges. Tickets sell out fast — buy well in advance via the festival's Trade Me account.
Stewart Island / Rakiura
New Zealand's third-largest island is the jewel of the deep south. Lying 30 kilometres off the coast across Foveaux Strait, Stewart Island (Rakiura — "land of the glowing skies") is home to roughly 500 permanent residents, an estimated 15,000 kiwi, and over 85% of the island is protected as Rakiura National Park. There are just 28 kilometres of road but 280 kilometres of walking tracks. This is as close to untouched New Zealand as you'll find.
Kiwi Spotting
Stewart Island is the best place in New Zealand to see a kiwi in the wild. The Rakiura tokoeka (Stewart Island brown kiwi) outnumber humans roughly 30 to 1 on the island, and unlike mainland kiwi, they sometimes forage during daylight hours. Several operators run guided night walks where you have a strong chance of encountering these remarkable birds on the beach at close range — an unforgettable wildlife experience. The island's relative absence of predators means kiwi, kaka, kakariki, kereru and many other native species thrive here in a way that's sadly rare on the mainland.
Rakiura Track (Great Walk)
The Rakiura Track is New Zealand's southernmost Great Walk — a 32-kilometre, three-day circuit through podocarp rainforest and along remote golden-sand beaches. It's considered one of the most accessible Great Walks in the country, staying at low elevation and following well-maintained boardwalks for much of the route. DOC huts and campsites are well-spaced along the way. Expect mud (it's Stewart Island), but also expect kiwi calls at night, pristine beaches, and some of the best birdlife in the country. Book huts well in advance during peak season (October to April).
Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary
A five-minute water taxi from the settlement of Oban takes you to Ulva Island, one of New Zealand's finest predator-free bird sanctuaries. Walking the island's trails is like stepping back in time — saddlebacks, yellowheads, weka, kaka and other rare native birds are everywhere, utterly unafraid of humans. Guided walks are excellent for learning to identify the species, but you can also explore independently. Allow two to three hours.
Dark Sky Sanctuary
Stewart Island was designated a Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2019 — the southernmost in the world. On clear nights the Milky Way is spectacularly vivid, and the island's high latitude makes it one of the best places in New Zealand to see the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights). The best chances are between March and September, though sightings depend on solar activity. The name Rakiura itself translates as "glowing skies."
The Catlins Coast
The Catlins is the spectacular coastal stretch between Invercargill and Balclutha — a wild, largely untouched corridor of podocarp forests, hidden waterfalls, sea caves and windswept beaches. It's one of the least-visited parts of New Zealand's South Island, which is precisely what makes it so special. The Southern Scenic Route traces the coast and is one of the great road trips in the country.
Curio Bay & Petrified Forest
At Curio Bay you can walk across the fossilised remains of a 180-million-year-old Jurassic forest, exposed on the rock platform at low tide. It's one of the most significant petrified forests in the world. Adjacent Porpoise Bay is home to a resident pod of critically endangered Hector's dolphins that visit during summer and autumn — among the smallest dolphins in the world, and one of the few places they come close to shore without being lured by food.
Cathedral Caves
These towering sea caves reach over 30 metres overhead and are accessible only for about three hours around low tide. Check tide times before you go — the 30-minute walk down through native bush is worth it for the dramatic reveal when you reach the cave entrance.
Purakaunui Falls & McLean Falls
The Catlins' waterfalls are among the most photogenic in the country. Purakaunui Falls is a cascading three-tier waterfall reached by a short 10-minute walk — one of the most photographed waterfalls in New Zealand. McLean Falls is a taller, single-drop cascade reached by a 40-minute return walk through native bush. Both are free and well-signposted.
Nugget Point Lighthouse
Perched on a dramatic headland at the northern end of the Catlins, Nugget Point Lighthouse overlooks a series of rocky islets (the "nuggets") where fur seals, sea lions, penguins and nesting seabirds congregate. The 20-minute walk to the lighthouse is stunning and the views from the platform are some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the South Island. It technically sits in Otago, but it's the natural endpoint of a Catlins road trip from the south.
Gore & Eastern Southland
The rural town of Gore sits on the banks of the Mataura River and has two claims to fame that you wouldn't normally put together: it's the brown trout fly-fishing capital of New Zealand and the country music capital of New Zealand. The Mataura River has the highest population and catch rates of brown trout of any river in the country, making Gore a pilgrimage for anglers from around the world. The annual New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards bring country music fans to town each year.
Gore is also home to the Hokonui Moonshine Museum, which tells the colourful story of illegal whisky distilling in Southland from the 1870s through to the 1950s. Members of the McRae clan from the Scottish Highlands brought their distilling skills to the Hokonui Hills and spent decades evading the law and the temperance movement. The museum is quirky, well-presented and worth an hour. The Eastern Southland Gallery houses an impressive art collection including works by renowned New Zealand artist Ralph Hotere.
Getting There
- By air: Invercargill Airport has domestic flights from Auckland (3.5 hrs), Wellington (2 hrs) and Christchurch (1.5 hrs) via Air New Zealand. The nearest international airports are Queenstown and Dunedin.
- From Queenstown: 190 km via SH6 and SH99, around 2.5 hours. A scenic drive through the Oreti Valley.
- From Dunedin: 220 km via SH1, around 3 hours. Or take the slower Catlins route via the coast (allow a full day).
- From Christchurch: 590 km via SH1, around 6.5 hours. Break the journey in Dunedin or Oamaru.
- By bus: InterCity runs daily services to Invercargill from Queenstown, Dunedin and Te Anau.
Where to Stay
Invercargill has a good range of hotels, motels and holiday parks. In Bluff, accommodation is limited — most people stay in Invercargill and drive down. On Stewart Island, the South Sea Hotel in Oban is the social hub, with a handful of B&Bs, holiday homes and backpackers also available. In the Catlins, accommodation is sparse — book ahead in summer, especially around Curio Bay and Papatowai.
Weather & Best Time to Visit
Southland is the first region to feel weather systems sweeping up from the Southern Ocean, and conditions can change quickly. Summers are warm but not hot — expect average highs around 18°C (64°F) with long daylight hours (the sun doesn't set until well after 9 pm in December). Winters are cold, especially inland, with average highs around 10°C (50°F) and overnight frosts common. Bring layers and waterproof gear regardless of the season.
The best time to visit is December to March for the warmest weather and longest days. May is ideal for the Bluff Oyster Festival. Winter visitors should target the Aurora Australis viewing season (March to September) on Stewart Island, but be prepared for cold, wet conditions.