Things To Do in Invercargill

Catlins Highway
The Catlins Highway section of the Southern Scenic Route takes in the Catlins coastline and large tracts of native forest. Attractions include beaches, waterfalls and caves, wildlife viewing and the fossil forest at Curio Bay.
Location: The Catlins Highway section of the Southern Scenic Route is on State Highway 92 between Invercargill, Owaka and Balclutha.

Clifden Caves
Explore the limestone caves and view the stalactites and glow worms within the cave system.
Location: The caves are located in western Southland. The cave entrance is signposted from the Clifden Gorge Road and parking is available adjacent to the caves entrance.

Croydon Bush & Dolamore Park
Croydon Bush shows what much of Southland once looked like with forest, grassland and shrubland communities. Adjacent Dolamore Park has native podocarp forest, expansive lawn areas and exotic plantings.
Location: Croydon Bush is located approximately 10 kilometres to the north-west of Gore. Dolamore Park lies in the south-western end of the Croydon Bush Scenic Reserve.

Curio Bay/Porpoise Bay
Hectors dolphins/papakanua, marine wildlife and the fossilised remains of an ancient forest can be seen at Curio and Porpoise bays, on the southern coastline near Invercargill.
Location: Curio Bay and Porpoise Bay are situated on the Catlins coast, 7 km south of Waikawa.

Eyre Mountains/Taka Ra Haka Conservation Park
A remote recreational experience is preserved in Eyre Mountains Conservation Park to help ensure a real “backcountry” flavour, aided by a network of tracks, huts and shelters.
Alert: The track into Mount Bee (Eyre Mountains) will be closed to the public effective 14 November 2007 until further notice, due to logging operations.
Location: It is located to the southwest of Lake Wakatipu on SH 6 approximately one hour’s drive from Invercargill or Queenstown

Lake Monowai/Borland Road
The Borland Road provides access into Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. The road provides access for trampers, hunters, mountain bikers, anglers, kayakers and those wishing to take a backcountry scenic drive.
Location: Lake Monowai/Borland Road is located in Fiordland National Park, off the Southern Scenic Route between Clifden and Manapouri.

Piano Flat & Waikaia Forest
Waikaia Forest is a large island of beech forest that is the home of four unique invertebrates. Piano Flat is a grassy enclosure providing a picnic area, back to nature camping ground and several walking tracks.
Location: Waikaia Forest is located in the mountains of northern Southland. Piano Flat is situated at the southen end of Waikaia Forest.

Southland hunting
This link will take you to Southland hunting information in the publications section of the website.
Location: Hunting areas are spread throughout eastern and western Southland and west Otago.

Takitimu Mountains
The Takitimu Mountains span two areas. This link will take you to Takitimu Mountains infomation in the Te Anau area.
Location: The Takitimu Mountains are located in western Southland.

Waitutu
Waitutu is the location of the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track and the challenging South Coast Track. It is also a popular area for hunting and fishing.
Location: The Waitutu Forest forms part of Te Wahipounamu (south-west New Zealand) World Heritage Area. It is situated in south-west Southland and is signposted from Tuatapere.

World Heritage Highway
The Southern Scenic Route between Te Anau and Invercargill has many points of natural and historic interest and varied opportunities for recreation along the way.
Location: The World Heritage Highway section of the Southern Scenic Route is a 200 kilometre drive through Te Anau, Tuatapere and Invercargill.