Southland
The crisp winter mornings and hot, dry summer days makes the Deep South an environment of extremes. Lush, undulating green fields, coupled with rugged coastline and native bush, create a land of beautiful contrasts.
Southland serves up the Jurassic Forest. More than 180 million years old, the remains of this petrified forest can be seen in Curio Bay on the Catlins Coast. Gnarled tree stumps are accompanied by logs felled eons ago before man walked the Earth.
Southland’s largest urban centre is Invercargill, a city memorable for its elegant buildings, gardens and landscaped parks. Tranquil waterways through this region attract fly fishing enthusiasts in search of brown trout. Key attractions include Stewart Island, and the Catlins Coast where visitors will find the best of every world – rivers, waterfalls, beaches and wildlife encounters.
The southern leg of SH1 ends at Bluff, home of the famous Bluff oyster, which is regarded amongst the tastiest in the world. It is only a short ferry ride to the southernmost part of New Zealand, Stewart Island.
New Zealand's southernmost inhabited island, Stewart Island, is a nature-lover's dream - not only because it is home to the country's latest national park, Rakiura, nor because it offers some of the best diving and tramping anywhere in New Zealand, but mainly because it is one of the most natural, untouched-by-man places in the country, if not the world.
Source: AA Travel
Photo: "Riverton Beach, Southland"
More information
See our Guide to public art galleries
AA Regional 101s
Arrange a visit to Bluff Marae
Complete one of New Zealand’s Great Walks - the Rakiura Track
Ride on an original steam train
Get your photo at the Stirling Point Signpost then climb Bluff Hill for stunning vistas
