Known as 'the friendly city', from its inception Invercargill has been the major service centre to the surrounding community. With determination and a strong sense of southern identity, Invercargill emerged out of isolated bush and swamp to prosperity. With a combination of cultural attractions, a rejuvenated city life and outstanding nature reserves and parks, there is no shortage of things to see and do.

Invercargill, a truly beautiful city, features interesting historic buildings and contemporary sculptures lining the wide streets. Known as Southland’s Garden City, the city has many spacious and picturesque gardens, including Queens Park. The city hosts the Southland Museum with its live tuataras and Shearing South, a tribute to the tough shearing industry.

Southland’s port town, Bluff, is New Zealand's oldest European town and the southern-most in the South Island. It is as spectacular in its geography as it is fascinating in its history. Bluff is the gateway to Stewart Island and home of the delicious world famous Bluff Oyster.

Southland is New Zealand's southern most province and spans the breadth of the South Island. It is celebrated for the uniqueness and diversity of its ever-changing backdrops, so varied and yet so close. Within a days travel, you will experience everything from towering rainforests, alpine tussocks, rolling fertile farmlands and golden beaches stretching as far as your eye can see.

Highlights of touring Southland & Fiordland include:

• The unspoilt beauty of Stewart Island
• Western Southland with the picturesque seaside beach town of Riverton
• The Catlins with its abundant wildlife, towering cliffs, estuaries and native forests
• Fiordland - the extraordinary region of dramatic grandeur and primeval beauty, including world famous Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound