Invercargill
Invercargill, New Zealand's southernmost city, blends Victorian and Edwardian architecture with wide streets, leafy parks and a rugged coastal setting near the Southern Ocean.
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About Southland
Invercargill is New Zealand's southernmost city and the main service centre of the Southland region. Known for its wide streets, Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and relaxed pace, it combines a working agricultural and maritime heritage with a growing visitor scene focused on motoring history, gardens and gateway access to the deep south.
Founded in the 1850s and named for Captain William Cargill, Invercargill grew through sheep, dairy and trade. Its Scottish settler roots remain visible in landmarks such as the Invercargill Water Tower, St Mary's Basilica and the Civic Theatre, while the city's unusual 20th-century alcohol licensing trust still shapes its hospitality culture today.
Queens Park is the city's green heart, an 81-hectare Victorian park with gardens, an aviary, animal enclosures and sports grounds. Nearby, Bill Richardson Transport World and Classic Motorcycle Mecca draw motoring enthusiasts, and E Hayes & Sons displays Burt Munro's famous 'Munro Special' Indian motorcycle from The World's Fastest Indian.
Invercargill is also the hometown of Burt Munro, the record-setting motorcycle racer who tested his bike on Oreti Beach. That connection underpins the city's motorcycle culture and the annual Burt Munro Challenge, one of several events that bring visitors to Southland.
Beyond the city, Bluff provides the ferry to Stewart Island/Rakiura, the start of State Highway 1 and celebrated Bluff oysters, while the Southern Scenic Route leads to the Catlins and Fiordland. For leisure and business travellers alike, Invercargill serves as a practical and distinctive base for exploring New Zealand's far south.
Southland Travel Guide
Best Time to Visit
Summer (December to February) offers long daylight hours and the best weather for beaches and outdoor activities. Autumn (March to May) is calmer and brings the Bluff Oyster & Food Festival in May, a highlight for food lovers.
How to Get Around
Central Invercargill is flat, compact and easy to explore on foot, with most hotels, cafés and key sights around Dee and Esk streets. Local buses, taxis and rental cars cover the wider area, and a car is useful for day trips to Bluff, Oreti Beach and the Southern Scenic Route.
Where to Stay
The city centre around Dee and Esk streets is the most convenient base, close to cafés, restaurants and attractions such as Bill Richardson Transport World. Quieter options near Queens Park suit families, while Bluff offers a coastal alternative for ferry access to Stewart Island.
Food & Drink
Southland's food scene is built around local seafood, with Bluff oysters in season, blue cod, Southland lamb and the region's famous cheese rolls. Cafés and bars cluster along Dee and Esk streets, and the Invercargill Licensing Trust runs several long-standing pubs and hotels around the city.
Ground Transportation Services in Southland
Airport Transfers
Travel between Invercargill Airport and hotels in the city centre, Bluff, business locations and other destinations across Southland.
Hourly Chauffeur
Book a private chauffeur by the hour for business meetings, events, sightseeing and flexible travel around Invercargill and the surrounding Southland region.
Car Rental
Rent a car in Invercargill for independent travel around the city and convenient trips to Bluff, the Catlins, Fiordland and the Southern Scenic Route.
Bus & Group Transfers
Arrange minibuses or charter buses for groups, corporate travel, events, airport transfers and tours around Invercargill and Southland.
Airports in Southland
Frequently Asked Questions
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