Invercargill
Invercargill
Southland's "garden city" got its title from its 1200 hectares of beautiful gardens and parks.
Southland's "garden city" got its title from its 1200 hectares of beautiful gardens and parks.
Holidays to Invercargill will take you to New Zealand's most southerly city which sits at the heart of a region made prosperous by its lush farmlands and the huge Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter. Invercargill holidays are famous for the friendly hospitality of locals. The destination enjoys a strong Scottish heritage. Southland's "garden city" got its title from its 1200 hectares of beautiful gardens and parks. Queens Park, at the heart of the city, is a favourite spot for a wander. The park is home to the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, housed in a landmark pyramid building at the park's southern edge.
Holidays to Invercargill will take you to New Zealand's most southerly city which sits at the heart of a region made prosperous by its lush farmlands and the huge Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter.
Invercargill holidays are famous for the friendly hospitality of locals. The destination enjoys a strong Scottish heritage. Southland's "garden city" got its title from its 1200 hectares of beautiful gardens and parks. Queens Park, at the heart of the city, is a favourite spot for a wander. The park is home to the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, housed in a landmark pyramid building at the park's southern edge.
A holiday to Invercargill is rarely at the top of the list for travellers in New Zealand. The city is regarded as little more than a waystation en route to Stewart Island or the Catlins Coast. But a holiday in Invercargill warrants a little more time. Invercargill sprawls over an exposed stretch of flat land at the head of the New River Estuary. In 2000, community contributions allowed its main centre of learning, the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), to offer free tuition for New Zealand and Australian residents (with lower than usual fees for international students) on all of its courses. As a result, Invercargill’s population swelled to 50,000, and its arts scene and nightlife gained new life. More recently, the discovery of a possible oil source nearby has led to some new investment in the town, and the prospect of more to come.
Invercargill's bustling port at Bluff, one of the country's leading export outlets, is famous for its succulent oysters, celebrated each April at the Bluff Oyster Festival. From Bluff, you can catch a ferry to the forest-clad Stewart Island, with its native wildlife and bushwalks. Invercargill is centrally located on the Southern Scenic Route, running from Dunedin down around the coast of Southland and up to the spectacular lakes of Fiordland.
Invercargill is about two-and-a-half hours drive south of Queenstown via SH 6. Invercargill Airport is about 3 km from Invercargill's Central Business District. It is served by Air New Zealand with flights from Christchurch and Wellington. A flight from Christchurch to Invercargill takes about an hour in a turboprop aircraft. On a clear day the flight is spectacular, with the Southern Alps to the west of the flight path. If flying south to Invercargill be sure to request a window seat on the right or starboard side of the aircraft
The city is regarded as little more than a waystation en route to Stewart Island or the Catlins Coast. But a holiday in Invercargill warrants a little more time.
Being so far south, Invercargill is quite frosty in comparison to Oz, usually averaging around 10ºC (50ºF).
Summer temperatures can reach the mid-20s and the city enjoys around 16 hours of sunlight at the solstice. Bring plenty of layers in winter, when the mercury usually hovers at just above 1ºC (34ºF).
