Step off the plane at Invercargill Airport into one of the southernmost cities in the world. Welcome to the capital of New Zealand's Southland, rich with natural wonders, old-world charm and plenty to entice your taste buds. Car hire is a great option in order to explore this peaceful part of the world at your own pace while you’re in town.
It may be the cloudiest city in New Zealand, but Invercargill more than makes up for its lack of sunshine with its boundless natural beauty and delectable dairy industry.
Home to seriously good dairy and seriously good beer
For the food and drink enthusiast, tantalise your taste buds at the Blue River Dairy, a sheep milk cafe that showcases what the rolling green hills and lush landscape can produce. Try out one of their world-famous cheese rolls after you’ve enjoyed a cheese tasting. Or two.
Taste beer like you've never tasted before at the Invercargill Brewery in Leet Street. Established by Steve Nally in 1999, this chemist graduate put his skills to work in setting up what is now the Invercargill Brewery, and has been creating award-winning craft brews ever since. Take a tour of the brewery and learn all about the brewing process.
If sweets are more your style, then you'll love the Seriously Good Chocolate company, where you can get your hands dirty and make your own chocolate – that is if you don’t eat the mixture first.
Must-see attractions in Invercargill
Invercargill is also known for its celebration of motorcycles, originating with one of its most celebrated notable residents, Burt Munro. Munro, who was born and died in Invercargill, is famous for his under-1000cc motorcycle world record, which he set in 1967. Somewhat of a folk hero in his hometown, his legacy led to the 2013 film The World’s Fastest Indian (partially filmed in Invercargill), and has inspired museums throughout the town. Classic Motorcycle Mecca is a must-see for motorcycle enthusiasts, and contains an impressive collection of old, new, and rare motorbikes. Be sure to purchase a ‘Turbo Pass’ which also allows you access to Bill Richardson Transport World, a fascinating, well-loved private collection of trucks and cars. Finally, E Hayes and Sons may just look like a hardware store, but in fact, it has Burt Munro’s famous bike on display, and is well worth a visit.
Indulge your inner child and take a stroll down memory lane to your sandpit digging days with Dig This Invercargill, a playground for adults who want to take digging to the extreme. Get in the seat of a 15-tonne digger or operate a bulldozer in the gravel pit grounds; you can even enjoy adrenaline-pumping experiences such as crushing a car, or playing some digger basketball. There are even little dig options for kids 5 years and older.
While you’re on the coast, you’d be remiss not to take a drive down the Southern Scenic Route. The Southern Scenic Route is a tourist highway that links Queenstown to Dunedin. Whilst not the most direct route between the towns, the highway was designed to show off the delights of the beauty of southern New Zealand, and travels through various towns, including Invercargill. Located right in the middle of the route, Invercargill is the perfect home-base to explore the entire route.
Drive the awe-inspiring Southern Scenic Route
The most popular tourist spot for day trips along the Southern Scenic Route is to the immaculate Milford Sound in the Fiordland region that is a must-see destination for any traveller to Invercargill. Within Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound has consistently been awarded one of the world’s greatest travel destinations by a number of travel publications for years, as well as providing an epic backdrop to a number of scenes in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of The Rings trilogy. This jaw-droppingly beautiful natural landmark has numerous walking tracks for beginners through to advanced hikers. Alternatively, kayaking, boat cruises and scenic flights are popular ways to see this majestic landscape.
If you have more than a few days in Invercargill, there are many other trails along the Southern Scenic Route to explore. If you don’t have time to see it all, here are a few of our favourite spots:
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The Catlins Coast: The Catlins offer some of the route’s most scenic coastal views, with Nugget Point/Tokata a must-see for some stunning photo ops. Stop off in the town of Curio Bay, where you’ll have the opportunity to do some wildlife spotting – sea lions regularly make their way onto the shoreline, and you may even spot a Yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho), or a Hector's dolphin (papakanua).
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Papatowai: A short drive from Curio Bay, Papatowai is a tiny coastal town with a population of around 40 people. Papatowai is a good stop-off spot to visit the nearby McLean Falls, the tallest waterfall in the Catlins.
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Riverton: Heading in the opposite direction from Invercargill (towards Queenstown), you’ll come across the township of Riverton/Aparima. The area is known as the ‘Riviera of the South’, and is a popular spot for artists and fisherman.
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Te Anau: Just under two hours north of Riverton, Te Anau is the gateway to the Fiordland. Take off on one of the many walking tracks in the area, or use the town as your base for exploring the many fiords in the Fiordland region. Check out Habit Foods before you leave to try some delicious bao!
