Invercargill (Waihōpai in Māori) (Pop 48,300) is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region.

Invercargill lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff, which is the southern most town in the South Island.

Invercargill sits amid rich farmland that is bordered by large areas of conservation land and marine reserves, including Fiordland National Park covering the south-west corner of the South Island.

Built in the late 19th and early 20th century, its wide streets and century old buildings give the visitor a unique feeling of stepping back in time to when business was conducted in a more sedate and considered manner and the streets were paved with Otago gold.

Invercargill is located 221 kms southwest of Dunedin and is the gateway to Stewart Island and Fiordland National Park.

Mainly of scottish origin, Invercargill is a service centre for the rich Southland farmlands. It is a commercial centre and can be used as a base for exploring the other areas of Southland, Fiordland, the Catlins Coast and Stewart Island.

The city of Invercargill offers many opportunities, fine heritage buildings, excellent shopping facilities and the warm southern hospitality of the locals.

Using Invercargill as your base, you can explore nearby Fiordland and Queenstown (an easy two-hour drive), the Catlins Coast and Rakiura National Park. It boasts an abundance of golf courses, parks, cafés, art galleries, theatres, conference centres and excellent sporting facilities, including a leisure centre and swimming and aquatic centre.

The city also offers visitors a variety of accommodation, restaurants and shopping, plus good transport links to other main centres. Priority attractions are the Southland Museum and Art Gallery where you can experience the Roaring ’40s exhibition, and the largest public display of tuatara (spiny-backed reptile native to New Zealand) in the world.

Invercargill is served by various coach and bus operators providing regular daily services from Christchurch, Dunedin, Timaru, Oamaru and Queenstown.  Regular air services is by Air New Zealand Link from Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.

There are no passenger train or rail services from Invercargill to Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Mt Cook, Timaru and Oamaru.