Southland and Stewart Island

Nature lovers won’t want to leave these southern regions.  Colonies of fur seals, sea lions, penguins and abundant bird life can be found.  Its rivers are plentiful with brown trout.  Lush and green, Southlands largest city is Invercargill with elegant Victorian and Edwardian buildings, gardens and landscaped parks.  Nearby Bluff is famous for its fat juicy oysters.  Across the Forveaux Strait is the bird life haven of Stewart Island.  Here it is possible to see more than 30 species, including the kiwi, in their natural habitat.  Many local residents descend from the whalers and early Rakiura Maori, with family histories reaching back almost 200 years.  Rakiura, the Maori name for Stewart Island, translates as ‘Land of the Glowing Skies’ – a probable reference to displays of Aurora Australis – the Southern Lights.

Highlights:

·               Tramp the Hump Ridge Track

·               Explore the waterfalls and rugged coastline of the Catlins

·               Discover Curio Bay’s 180 million year old petrified fossil trees

·               Rise early and see the sun rise at Nugget Point

·               Walk part of all of Stewart Island’s Rakiura Track