Southland
TUATAPERE
Riverton
New Zealand Sausage Capital If you love a snag, the nearby town of Tuatapere is a must. As well as a world-famous banger, there’s a decent logging museum, and sitting on the edge of Fiordland, you’re always on the cusp of an adventure. Wildly beautiful Bluecliffs Beach sits just out of town.
TUATAPERE
Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track This 61km, three-day
Riverton Arts Centre Riverton is the main centre of Western Southland and boasts artists of every genre. Pop into the Arts Centre and come away with a unique piece. Thirty-five minutes from Invercargill, open seasonally – check in advance.
curve of soft sand and safe family swimming.
Mores Scenic Reserve Home
Colac Bay The waves here appease every level of surfer while the northern end is a haven for swimmers. A 10-minute drive from Riverton or 45 minutes from Invercargill.
to several short walks that makes the most of the countryside and surrounding coastal views.
Safe Swimming Beaches Both Taramea Bay and Mitchells Bay are located in Riverton, offering a
Dolphin Spotting When travelling the western coastline of Southland, keep an eye out for dolphins. Both Hectors dolphins and the gregarious bottlenose species grace these waters.
Te Hikoi Museum Easily one of
TOP TIP: The Bluff Hill area features many great walks. Downhill mountain biking is only permitted on the Pearce Street Track.
Gore
Invercargill
Bluff WORLD-FAMOUS BLUFF OYSTERS Many say there
STEWART ISLAND FERRY Bluff is your gateway to New Zealand’s third largest island. The Foveaux Strait is famed for its rough sea so catching the one-hour ferry requires a hard stomach. Take some gold coins for the cash bar.
Stewart
is no better oyster than a Bluff oyster. When in season (between March and August), shuck a few down your throat and make your own mind up.
See Map Section - pages 57 to 63
Island
the country’s best small museums with lots of history on Western Southland. The Rock Room allows kids to identify all the types they’ve found on nearby beaches.
Gemstone Beach It’s possible to find your own sapphire stone on the beautiful, wild beach. Twenty 20 minutes from Riverton.
Long Hilly (Round Hill) Walking Track Traipsing through a small section of the Roundhill Goldfield this is an easy, 2.7km looped walk that passes various gold mining relics. Allow two hours.
MILLENNIUM TRACK Climb to the summit of Bluff Hill via this steep, one-hour (one way) track. Superb views encompass Foveaux Strait and Stewart Island with informative panels at the top. TOPUNI TRACK Another way to reach the Bluff Hill summit is via this short but steep 50-minute track (one way) past a WWII gun emplacement through forest and shrub.
SOUTHLAND CHEESE ROLL Bluff’s annual event sees local masterminds bring their most inventive rolling contraption to Lee Street, where cheese is mounted and let loose down the road. Held every November.
DIRECTIONS SIGNPOST AT STIRLING POINT Come and see the signature yellow road sign
loop track crosses dramatic limestone landforms drenched in panoramic views across the ocean and Stewart Island. The walk can include plush lodge accommodation with hot showers and king size beds if you so wish.
Clifden Caves Fit types can enter a limestone cave system draped in stalactites and glowworms. Allow at least 90 minutes to explore, climbing several fixed ladders and crawling through tunnels. Subject to flash flooding. DO NOT enter during or after rain, or if rain is forecast. Only an eight-minute drive from Tuatapere.
at the very end of SH 1. With views across the Foveaux Strait to Stewart Island, it makes a great prop for a selfie.
BLUFF MARITIME MUSEUM Very affordable and crammed with maritime heritage, learn all about whaling and oyster farming, as well as the town’s early days when it was known as Campbelltown.
TOP TIP: Fresh seafood establishments pepper the streets. If you don’t know where to start, begin with Oyster Cove for stellar views and Fowler Oysters for quick and easy takeaways.
TOP LEFT: Bluff sign © Sam Deuhrass LOWER LEFT: Riverton © Adobe Stock
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