Free Southland Travel Guide & Mobile App

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Southland
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Explore Southland’s fiords, rural towns, southern coast and Rakiura wilderness, with Invercargill and Te Anau providing gateways to New Zealand’s deep south.

Southland’s character lies in the relationship between productive lowland country and protected wilderness. A clear day can reveal distant mountains from agricultural roads, yet weather can change rapidly in Fiordland, on exposed coasts and across island crossings. Visitors who allow time for delays, choose bases according to their itinerary and respect track and conservation guidance will find a region where maritime history, Māori heritage, farming, engineering and wild landscapes remain closely connected.

When is the best time to visit Southland?

Best: December–February · 20–21°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January (best)2070
February (best)2165
March1975
April1680
May1385
June1090
July1090
August1185
September1480
October1675
November1870
December (best)2075

Getting to and around Southland

How to get there

Invercargill Airport is the principal commercial airport within Southland and has domestic connections to major New Zealand centres, though routes and schedules can change. Queenstown Airport, outside Southland in neighbouring Otago, is a widely used gateway for visitors travelling to Te Anau and Fiordland. State Highway 1 links Invercargill with the rest of the South Island, while State Highway 6 leads north towards Te Anau and Milford Sound. Bluff is the main departure point for ferries to Rakiura Stewart Island; check current sailing arrangements before travelling.

Transportation

A car is useful for connecting Invercargill, Bluff, Gore, Te Anau and rural attractions, as public transport is limited outside the principal towns. Roads into Fiordland are scenic but can be winding, isolated and affected by rain, snow or temporary closures. Coach transfers, shuttle services and guided excursions operate on major visitor routes, particularly from Te Anau towards Milford Sound, but should be arranged in advance. Rakiura is explored mainly on foot, by local vehicle transfers, boat or guided excursion, and walking times can be longer than the map suggests.

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Best attractions in Southland

Southland’s attractions range from major wilderness landscapes to museums, gardens and working coastal towns. Fiordland National Park provides the region’s defining outdoor experiences, with boat journeys on Milford Sound Piopiotahi, Doubtful Sound Patea and other waterways, as well as walking routes around Te Anau, Manapouri and the mountains. The Kepler, Milford and Routeburn tracks offer different levels of multi-day trekking, while shorter walks provide access to rainforest, lakeshores and waterfalls. Rakiura National Park on Stewart Island is especially suited to walking and wildlife observation, with coastal tracks and opportunities to look for native birds. Invercargill adds a cultural dimension through transport collections, galleries, museums and landscaped public spaces, while Bluff combines maritime heritage with views across Foveaux Strait. Rural Southland offers river scenery, farming landscapes and cycling or driving routes between service towns. Visitors should distinguish between attractions that require independent access and those reached through booked cruises, shuttles or guided trips, particularly in remote Fiordland.

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Best landmarks in Southland

Milford Sound Piopiotahi is Southland’s most internationally recognisable natural landmark, defined by steep cliffs, Mitre Peak and waterfalls that descend directly towards the fiord. The wider Fiordland landscape includes the immense lakes of Te Anau and Manapouri, whose forested shores and mountain backdrops express the geological scale of the region. On Rakiura Stewart Island, rugged coastlines, sheltered bays and the forested interior of Rakiura National Park form a landmark landscape rather than a single monument. Bluff’s Stirling Point marks the southern end of State Highway 1 and looks across Foveaux Strait towards the island, while its maritime setting connects the town to Southland’s port history. In Invercargill, the water tower is a prominent piece of historic civic architecture, and the city’s broad streets and substantial public buildings reflect its nineteenth-century planning and later prosperity. These places are significant because they show the region’s contrasting identities: glaciated wilderness, island ecology, maritime commerce and settled agricultural society.

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Explore Southland on the map

Plan your trip on one map. See where the top cities, national parks and sights are, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Best restaurants in Southland

Southland’s food reflects its pastoral economy, cold southern waters and practical country traditions. In Invercargill, Bluff and Te Anau, restaurants and cafés serve local seafood alongside lamb, beef, venison, dairy products and seasonal produce. Bluff oysters are the region’s best-known speciality, with their availability governed by season and commercial supply, while blue cod and other southern fish are also associated with the area’s fishing culture. Country bakeries, cafés and pubs provide familiar New Zealand fare, substantial breakfasts and regional baking, while contemporary restaurants use local ingredients in more refined preparations. Farmers’ markets and food outlets in rural towns offer opportunities to buy preserves, fruit, vegetables and small-producer goods when operating. Fiordland’s remote locations have a more limited dining range, so walkers and independent travellers should plan provisions carefully rather than assuming regular shops or restaurants. Local beverages and New Zealand wines are widely available, although most are produced elsewhere in the country.

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Best bars in Southland

Southland’s evening life is centred on pubs, restaurants, cafés and community venues rather than a large nightclub scene. Invercargill has the broadest choice, including traditional pubs, modern bars, live music and occasional cultural events, while Gore and other service towns provide locally focused evening venues. Bluff’s nightlife reflects its working harbour and is generally quieter than its daytime maritime activity. Te Anau has pubs, restaurants and bars serving visitors before or after Fiordland excursions, although evenings remain relatively restrained outside busy travel periods. On Rakiura Stewart Island, the emphasis is on small local venues, relaxed meals and early starts for walking or boating rather than late-night entertainment. Check current arrangements locally, as opening patterns can vary with season, weather and the size of the community.

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Best nightclubs in Southland

Southland’s evening life is centred on pubs, restaurants, cafés and community venues rather than a large nightclub scene. Invercargill has the broadest choice, including traditional pubs, modern bars, live music and occasional cultural events, while Gore and other service towns provide locally focused evening venues. Bluff’s nightlife reflects its working harbour and is generally quieter than its daytime maritime activity. Te Anau has pubs, restaurants and bars serving visitors before or after Fiordland excursions, although evenings remain relatively restrained outside busy travel periods. On Rakiura Stewart Island, the emphasis is on small local venues, relaxed meals and early starts for walking or boating rather than late-night entertainment. Check current arrangements locally, as opening patterns can vary with season, weather and the size of the community.

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Best shops in Southland

Invercargill offers Southland’s widest shopping choice, with a conventional city centre, department and chain retailers, independent businesses, galleries and shops selling outdoor equipment. Gore and Winton function as smaller market and service towns, where local businesses are useful for provisions, books, clothing and practical rural goods rather than luxury retail. Bluff is a place to look for seafood products and maritime-themed items, subject to local availability, while Te Anau has shops oriented towards walkers, travellers, crafts and souvenirs connected with Fiordland. Rakiura Stewart Island has a small-scale retail scene focused on essential supplies, local art, books, outdoor needs and island-themed gifts. Regional purchases worth considering include locally made preserves, honey, woollen goods, craftwork and New Zealand food products, but visitors should remember that many remote shops have limited stock and seasonal hours. Markets and artisan events vary, so confirm current dates locally rather than planning an itinerary around an unverified market.

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Southland essentials

Currency and Payment
Southland uses the New Zealand dollar (NZD), like the rest of New Zealand. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in Invercargill, Te Anau, Gore and other established visitor centres, while cash remains useful for small purchases, remote services and some transport or community facilities. Mobile coverage and payment connectivity can be limited in parts of Fiordland and Rakiura, so carry a practical backup payment method and do not rely solely on an internet connection.
Safety
Southland is generally straightforward for visitors, but its remote landscapes require preparation. Fiordland and Rakiura can experience heavy rain, strong winds, low cloud, cold temperatures and rapidly changing conditions at any time of year. Follow track grades and official weather advice, tell someone about longer walks and carry suitable clothing, food and navigation equipment. Drive cautiously on narrow or unfamiliar roads, allow extra time for breaks and fuel, and take care near rivers, lakes, coastlines and unguarded viewpoints.
Emergency Situations
Dial 111 anywhere in Southland for police, fire or ambulance assistance. In a life-threatening outdoor emergency, provide your exact location, track name, hut or landmark and any relevant mobile or satellite information; police coordinate search and rescue, including responses in remote areas. Marine and coastal incidents may involve the coastguard, while outdoor rescue arrangements vary by location. Mobile reception is not dependable in Fiordland or on Rakiura, so consider a personal locator beacon or satellite communicator for remote walks and boating.
Do's and Don'ts
Do respect Māori place names, local communities and the protected status of parks, reserves and wildlife. Stay on marked tracks, keep dogs and drones within permitted rules, remove rubbish and follow biosecurity instructions when travelling to Rakiura or other sensitive areas. Do not feed birds, approach seals or disturb nesting wildlife. In rural districts, close gates, give farm machinery space and avoid entering private land without permission. Tipping is not an obligatory New Zealand custom, although a discretionary tip may be given for particularly good service.
Local Tips
Use Te Anau as a practical base for several Fiordland outings, but allow contingency time because rain and transport delays are part of travel in the west. Invercargill is worth more than a brief fuel stop, especially for its museums, galleries and heritage streets. Bluff’s exposed waterfront can feel considerably colder than inland Southland. On Rakiura, book accommodation and transport early, carry weatherproof clothing and plan around limited services rather than expecting last-minute availability.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloKia ora[kee-ah or-ah]
GoodbyeKa kite[kah kee-teh]
YesAe[eye]
NoKao[kah-oh]
Please/You're welcomeTēnā koa[teh-nah koh-ah]
Thank youNgā mihi[nah mee-hee]
Excuse me/SorryAroha mai[ah-roh-hah my]
How are you?Kei te pēhea koe?[kay teh peh-hea koy]
Fine. And you?Pai. Ā koe?[pie. ah koy]
Do you speak English?Ka kōrero koe i te reo Ingarihi?[kah koh-reh-roh koy ee teh reh-oh ing-ah-ree-hee]
I don't understandKaore au e mārama[kah-oh-reh ow eh mah-rah-mah]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseKa hiahia au ki te tirohia te rārangi kai[kah hee-ah-hee-ah ow kee teh tee-roh-hee-ah teh rah-rah-ngi kye]
I don't eat meatKaore au e kai i te mutton[kah-oh-reh ow eh kye ee teh muht-on]
Cheers!Kia pai[kee-ah pie]
I would like to pay, pleaseKa hiahia au ki te utu, tēnā koa[kah hee-ah-hee-ah ow kee teh oo-too, teh-nah koh-ah]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Tāpirihia![tah-pee-ree-hah]
Go away!Haere atu![high-reh ah-too]
Call the Police!Tūtohu te Pirihimana![too-toh-hoo teh pee-ree-hee-mah-nah]
Call a doctor!Tūtohu he daktoro![too-toh-hoo heh dah-ktoh-roh]
I'm lostKei te ngaro ahau[kay teh nah-roh ah-hau]
I'm illKei te pātea ahau[kay teh pah-teh-ah ah-hau]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ka hiahia au ki te hoko...[kah hee-ah-hee-ah ow kee teh hoh-koh]
I'm just lookingKei te titiro noa ahau[kay teh tee-tee-roh noh-ah ah-hau]
How much is it?E hia te utu?[eh hee-ah teh oo-too]
That's too expensiveHe tino tārewa[he tee-no tah-reh-wah]
Can you lower the price?Ka taea e koe te whakaheke i te utu?[kah tah-eh eh koy teh fah-kah-hek-eh ee teh oo-too]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?He aha te wā?[he ah-hah teh wah]
It's one o'clockHe teka tahi te wātū[he teh-kah tah-hee teh wah-too]
Half past (10)Hāwhe ki (10)[haah-feh kee (ten)]
MorningAta[ah-tah]
AfternoonPopo[poh-poh]
EveningAhiahi[ah-hee-ah-hee]
YesterdayInanahi[ee-nah-nah-hee]
TodayI tenei ra[ee teh-neh rah]
TomorrowApo[ah-poh]
1Tahi[tah-hee]
2Rua[roo-ah]
3Toru[toh-roo]
4Whā[fah]
5Rima[ree-mah]
6Ono[oh-noh]
7Whitu[fee-too]
8Waru[wah-roo]
9Iwa[ee-wah]
10Tekau[teh-kow]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Kei hea te...?[kay he-ah teh]
What's the address?He aha te wāhitau?[he ah-hah teh wah-hee-tow]
Can you show me (on the map)?Ka taea e koe te whakaatu mai (i te mapi)?[kah tah-eh eh koy teh fah-kah-ah-too my (ee teh mah-pee)]
When's the next (bus)?Kāore te pahi e kitea?[kah-oh-reh teh pah-hee eh kee-teh-ah]
A ticket (to ....)He tikiti (ki ....)[he tee-kee-tee (kee)]

History of Southland

Māori settlement and Ngāi Tahu relationships

Māori have long travelled through and used the southern South Island, including the coast, inland lakes, rivers and islands of present-day Southland. Ngāi Tahu traditions record important places, travel routes and seasonal resources across the region, including mahinga kai, the customary gathering of food and other materials. Rakiura Stewart Island held particular significance for its birds, coastal resources and strategic position in Foveaux Strait. Māori place names remain an important part of Southland’s geography, while archaeological evidence and oral traditions provide context for the region before European settlement.

Sealing, whaling and early coastal contact

European maritime activity reached southern New Zealand in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, followed by sealing and whaling ventures around Foveaux Strait and the subantarctic waters. These industries were demanding and often short-lived, but they established patterns of coastal contact, shipping and trade. Bluff Harbour became increasingly important as European settlement expanded, while relationships between Māori communities, visiting crews and colonial interests brought profound social and economic change. The maritime history of the south is still visible in Bluff’s port character and in the region’s continuing connection with the sea.

Colonial settlement and the founding of Invercargill

Planned European settlement expanded across the Southland Plain during the 1850s. Invercargill was established in 1856 and developed with broad streets, reflecting the ambitions of its founders and the agricultural potential of the surrounding country. Scottish influence was significant among settlers, although the town and region were shaped by people from many backgrounds. Pastoral farming, timber, flax and coastal trade supported early growth. The difficult climate and distance from New Zealand’s main centres encouraged a strong local focus on self-sufficiency, transport links and civic institutions.

Pastoral expansion, railways and regional commerce

During the later nineteenth century, Southland’s economy became increasingly connected to sheep farming, dairying and grain production. Railways and improved roads linked Invercargill with rural districts and helped move livestock, timber and agricultural goods to port. Gore grew as a major service and transport centre in eastern Southland, while Bluff handled coastal and overseas trade. The development of freezing works and related industries connected local farms with distant markets, transforming both the landscape and the region’s settlement pattern.

Gold, timber and the shaping of the western frontier

Gold discoveries in parts of western and southern New Zealand brought prospectors and short-lived rushes, although Southland’s long-term economy rested more firmly on farming, forestry and shipping than on mining. Timber extraction affected lowland forests and the margins of Fiordland before later conservation measures changed the balance between commercial use and protection. The region’s western interior remained difficult to access, and exploration, surveying and engineering gradually made places such as Te Anau and Manapouri gateways to the mountains and fiords.

Conservation and the creation of Fiordland National Park

The recognition of Fiordland’s exceptional landscapes led to increasingly strong protection during the twentieth century. Fiordland National Park was established in 1952 and later became part of Te Wāhipounamu, the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. Conservation safeguarded extensive rainforests, alpine ranges, lakes and fiords, while tracks, huts and guided transport made selected areas accessible to visitors. The history of Fiordland therefore combines exploration and tourism with an ongoing effort to protect ecosystems from pressures associated with roads, introduced species and human use.

Rakiura Stewart Island and modern conservation

Rakiura Stewart Island has a distinct Māori and maritime history, with communities shaped by fishing, boatbuilding, forestry and links across Foveaux Strait. Much of the island became Rakiura National Park in 2002, placing its forests, wetlands and coastlines within a nationally important protected landscape. Conservation work has focused particularly on native birds and the control of introduced predators. The island’s contemporary identity balances a small permanent population and working community with carefully managed walking, wildlife and nature-based tourism.

Industrial Southland in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries

Southland’s modern economy has continued to rest on agriculture, food processing, forestry, transport and energy, while Invercargill has developed as the region’s principal service centre. The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter near Bluff, operating since the 1970s, became a major industrial presence and an important part of the region’s economic history. At the same time, tourism expanded around Fiordland and Rakiura, creating new employment while increasing the need for responsible management of roads, tracks, waterways and wildlife habitats.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Southland, New Zealand

Discover Southland like never before with Evendo, your 100% free app-based travel guide. Explore attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more with ease.

  • Comprehensive details on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities.
  • Rich set of information including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details.
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences directly through the app.
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Unlock the secrets of Southland, New Zealand with Evendo. From stunning landmarks to hidden gems, our app ensures you experience the best of Southland—all for free!

  • Historical and cultural insights about Southland.
  • Essential travel tips and curated local advice.
  • User-friendly navigation and 'Near me' feature.
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases.

Welcome to Southland, New Zealand—a land of breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. With Evendo, your journey through Southland becomes an unforgettable adventure. Whether you're exploring the majestic Fiordland National Park, visiting the historic Invercargill city, or enjoying the serene beauty of Stewart Island, Evendo provides all the information you need at your fingertips.

Our app offers detailed insights into Southland's top attractions, such as the captivating Bluff Hill, the serene Mavora Lakes, and the awe-inspiring Te Anau Glowworm Caves. Discover local favorites like the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, and indulge in culinary delights at renowned restaurants such as Louie's Restaurant & Tapas Bar and the Oyster Cove Restaurant & Bar.

Evendo goes beyond just attractions. Easily book hotels, tours, tickets, and unique experiences directly through the app. No more hassle of searching multiple sites—everything you need is in one place. With rich information including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details, planning your trip has never been easier.

Stay updated with Southland's history, essential travel tips, and curated local advice to make the most of your visit. Use our 'Near me' feature to find nearby attractions, shops, bars, nightclubs, and activities, ensuring you never miss out on hidden gems. Experience Southland like a local with Evendo.

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