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New Zealand > Southland
Southland
is as it's name implies the southern most region of
New Zealand and is the
place to visit if you’d like to get away from it
all. We call it Soul Time in Southland.
Bounded by Otago to the north, and comprising of the
Catlins Forest park in the east, (New Zealand’s new National Park). The towns of Balclutha,
Clinton, Gore and Mataura.
Invercargill is Southland’s capital with a wide
range of facilities and activities and is situated near the central
southern coast. Further west encounter Winton,
Riverton Tuatapere, Mossburn, Manapuri and
Te
Anau, a base
for exploring the spectacular
Fiordland National Park or driving up to Milford
Sound.
Southland’s
key attractions include Stewart Island, the Catlins, and the Southern Scenic Route, New Zealand’s most diverse
touring route. Fishing,
walking, eco tours.
 Discover
the majestic beauty of the jagged Fiordland mountains and the rugged southern
coast. Explore New Zealand native bush rolling
to the water’s edge or stroll down a white sandy
beach and enjoy peace and solitude. Meander
through the colourful coastal fishing villages and
seaside settlements. Venture down side roads,
and find places to view wildlife. Stay
overnight along the way, meet local people and find
out what we mean by ‘southern
hospitality’.
 Uncover
the ancient secrets of this land which has been
occupied by Maori for over 1000 years and observe the
natural features of the environment that led Ngai
Tahu, as the people of the land, down the same
pathways you will travel.
Majestic Milford
Sound draws you to Te Anau,
at one end of the Southern Scenic Route. Visitors are
always captivated by the splendour of Mitre Peak and
the beauty of the remote fiords.
Southland is an
area with a huge diversity of walks, from short walks
to multi-day treks. The walks can either be
undertaken unguided or guided. The main walks in
Southland are listed below.
Hump
Ridge Track
 Covering
53 kilometres of contrasting landscapes, lowland
coastal Waitutu Podocarp forests and sub-alpine
tussock, the track involves a three day/two night
walking experience.
Situated in southern Fiordland, the track
incorporates part of the existing South Coast Track
and includes such wildlife as seals, Hector’s
dolphins and keas. The area is also rich in history
for both Maori and European cultures.
A key attraction is the recently restored famous
Percy Burn Viaduct, and Edwin, Sandhill and Francis
Burn Viaducts. The four viaducts are still used by
trampers to provide access across ravines through
Waitutu Incorporation lands between Port Craig and
the Fiordland National Park south coast area. The
Percy Burn Viaduct is the largest surviving wooden
viaduct in the world.
For more information see the
website.
Stewart Island
New Zealand’s next National Park, is a
unique remnant of natural New Zealand. A smorgasbord
of unspoilt inlets, bush clad hills, rugged
coastline, swampy valleys and dramatic granite
outcrops. Podocarp and kamahi forest dominate the
island. Kiwi, kaka and parakeets are found in
relative abundance. Short walks:
There is a range of short walks from 1/2 hour to 4
hours around Halfmoon Bay. The walks provide breath
taking views of bays around Halfmoon Bay, forest and mountains.
Long walks:
Rakiura Track: 29 km, 2 nights/3 days. The track
requires moderate fitness, providing a good
introduction to Stewart Island. The circuit follows
open coast, climbs over a 300 minute high forested
ridge, and traverses the sheltered shores of Paterson
Inlet. It passes sites of historical interest and
introduces many of the common sea and forest birds of
the island.
North West
Circuit: 125 km, 10 -12 days. The North West Circuit
provides a challenging tramp around the island’s
northern coast. The track is suitable for experienced
and well-equipped trampers.
More
Catlins
The Catlins is
a State Forest Park situated in eastern Southland. It
has spectacular coastal scenery, with rocky
headlands, sandy bays and estuaries. The distinctive
ridges of the Catlins are covered in rimu, kamahi and
silver beech forest. Yellow-eyed penguins nest in
pockets of coastal forest, and seals, sealions and
Hector’s dolphins are commonly seen.
Short walks:
The Catlins is an area which encompasses a
wealth of short walks with waterfalls, beaches and
bush walks as well as a petrified forest. Wildlife
such as seals, sealions, Hector’s dolphins and
penguins can be viewed on many of the remote beaches
in the Catlins.
Trout Fishing
The Southland
region abounds with numerous quality fishing rivers,
streams and lakes. In fact from Invercargill,
Southland’s capital city, there are 27 excellent
fishing rivers and streams within 2 hours’ easy
driving.
Boasting a worldwide reputation, the Mataura River is
one of the best brown trout fishing rivers in the
world. This is due to the fact that it has the
highest population and catch rates of any river in
New Zealand. It is also famous for its hatches and
spinner falls and is the best ‘match the
hatch’ fishing in New Zealand.
Whilst Southland’s fishing is often described as
a “dry fly Mecca” and has an international
reputation for the quality of it’s brown trout,
fishing in Southland offers more than just freshwater
fishing.
Sea Fishing
Sea
fishing and diving opportunities abound, particularly
around the Stewart
Island and Fiordland areas.
There are many charter boats that will take visitors
around the waters of Stewart Island for
an exciting day of fishing. With a vast
selection of fish available, the local favourite
would have to be the succulent Blue Cod. As well as
sea-fishing there are also opportunities to dive for
crayfish and paua, more commonly known overseas as
lobster and abalone.
So whether you want to fish for brown trout or try
your luck at the open sea, Southland has everything a
fisherman or woman would ever need.
Tourism Southland is part of the Tourism New Zealand
Fishing Network, for more information have a look at
our website – www.troutnewzealand.com.
Southland's Wildlife
 Southland
is home to a large variety of native wildlife such as
kiwi, albatross, yellow-eyed and Fiordland crested
penguins, Hooker’s sea lions, parakeets,
Hector’s dolphins and southern right whales. In
fact, Southland offers some of New Zealand’s
most accessible wildlife.
Southland’s islands are important sanctuaries
for threatened native species: Kakapo and Short
Tailed Bats on Codfish island and South Island
Saddlebacks on the Titi islands and Ulva Island off
Stewart Island.
The Subantarctic Islands are internationally renowned
nature reserves and home to many rare and
unique nature reserves and species.
Fiordland National Park is a World Heritage Area and one of the
largest such parks in the world, covering 1,210,000
hectares. It is renowned for rugged mountains and
fiords, vast forests and alpine areas, and an
abundance of native wildlife. The park offers an
incredible range of recreational activities. Walks,
tracks and routes crisscross the park, including the
world-famous Milford, Routeburn and Kepler Tracks.
The new Hump Ridge Track in southern Fiordland will
open in October 2001.
The Awarua
Wetlands, located south of Invercargill, comprise the
largest area of protected wetlands in southern New
Zealand. They support a variety of vegetation types
– estuarine
and salt marsh communities, cushion bogs, red
tussock grasslands, shrublands and forest. Some
unusual plant associations include species otherwise
only found in alpine and sub alpine-levels. The
Wetlands are a good place to observe many wading bird
species.
The Longwood Range
dominates the landscape around Riverton, Otautau,
Orepuki and east Tuatapere. They are a popular place
for red deer and pig hunting, walking, tramping and
picnicking. Once the focus for gold mining and timber
milling activities, the Longwoods are today conserved
for their scenic, historic, wildlife and recreational
values.
The Mavora Lakes
off the Mossburn – Te Anau road, are set among
picturesque mountains, beech forest and grasslands.
The park is a great place for walking, tramping,
fishing, horse trekking and mountain biking. Good
populations of bush robins are found in the forest
and falcons are often seen above the bushline.
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