Invercargill

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

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).