Invercargill "The Southern Most City Of NZ"

Invercargill the Southern
City of New Zealand has a lot going for it, the City Boasts some of the best Sporting Facilities in New Zealand such as the International Indoor Cycling Velodrome, International Hockey Fields, Teretonga Motor Racing Track , World class multi purpose stadium which even has a Rock Climbing Wall, Southland Stags Rugby Grounds and the list just keeps going on, if you can think of a sport then it is most probably supported here and has the facilities to back it up.

Queens Park located in the centre of the City is beautiful and must be seen if your in town, it even has it's own golf course and Museum which is home to one of the most prehistoric lizards on earth the "Tuatara" which is bred here.

The last movie to be made in Invercargill was the "Worlds Fastest Indian" starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, if you havent seen it do, as it has some good scene's from around Invercargill and the beaches.

There are some great places to eat out here like Waxie O'Shea's Irish bar where the guiness flows just nicely or for something finer i suggest the Cabbage Tree simply amazing food.
There is everything to suit your taste here when it comes to food.

Invercargill is the place to put your feet up and rest awhile after a hectic travel schedule, it is only 2 hours from Queenstown, 2 Hours from Dunedin, 2 Hours from Te Anau and has the Catlins Coastline not far from it, virtually the centre of it all, plus you will find some incredible shopping here to top it all off.

During the summer months you will be lucky to see sunset before 10.30pm with it rising nice and early as well, perfect for a full days adventure.

If you miss a visit to Invercargill you will be missing something special, especially in the summer months which is the best time to visit, winter can be bitter, but with snow fields not far away definately worth a look.

Aussie Pete

" Bluff " Oyster Capital of New Zealand

First of all i should explain that the area's that i will be talking about of the next few weeks are a part of a province called Southland. The above video is from this area. Southland as a whole is vast compared to other area's in NZ.

It accounts for roughly a third of NZ'S GDP with some of the Largest Industries in New Zealand based here though strangely enough is generally dismissed by other New Zealanders as a force to be reconed with, this may have something to do with fact that it is at the bottom of the south island and if your into Rugby at all then you must go to a Southland Stags game if you get the chance, the atmosphere is amazing.

Another success for Southland has been the Introduction of the ZERO FEE'S scheme for the Southern Institute Of Technology, if want some academic qualifications with some of the best resources in the world in a vast range of vocations then you can't beat this, be quick and further your education while it still lasts.

Anyway i could go on and on but alot of these things are based in Invercargill and i will touch on them more when reviewing the Southern Most City.

Bluff is the next place to visit.

Bluff is located at the bottom of the South Island, New Zealand, in the province of Southland and is the 'Gateway to Stewart Island'.

State highway 1 starts at Bluff's Sterling Point an attraction in itself. Stirling Point is to New Zealand what Landsend is to Great Britain.

Bluff is unique in the fact that it is the oldest European settled town in New Zealand, added to that it has had a very colourful past, some of which can be found at the local Maritime Museum.

Bluff has a lot to offer the discerning traveller with attractions like the Bluff' Maritime Museum, Stirling Point, panoramic views from the viewing platform on top of Bluff Hill (Motupohe), and walking tracks, there is even an old gun placement to view if your keen on abit of tramping up a steep track.

The major event at Bluff is The Oyster Bay Bluff Oyster and Southland Seafood Festival these oysters are touted as some of the best in the country, when the season starts they are quickly bought up buy prime restaurants across the country, prices can be driven up by demand so they must be popular, i myself am not a fervent oyster eater so they don't do much for me, but the people that love them say there the best so who am i to argue.

Bluff is major port which services a vast array of vessels and business one being Tiwai Aluminium Smelter, apparently one of the most purest aluminiums in the world is made here, tourists ships going to the Antartic will drop in sometimes for supplies etc as well and then there's the fishing fleets and the ferry also leaves for Stewart Island from here as well.

At Bluff you can see the ocassional seal or penguin and some of the walks offer some great views without going along way for them.

It is however an old town which is trying to redevelop itself, first and foremost it is a working port town so some of the aspects and buildings of it are ugly but as with everything, under the surface you can find beauty and Bluff is one of those places. One tip i can offer you is to go up to the lookout on the top of bluff hill, you can drive up there and the views are quite good, well worth it.

Aussie Pete

Stewart Island Bottom of New Zealand

Stewart Island is the last main settlement on the bottom of New Zealand before you start your way to the Antartica, yes it can be cold and wet but untouched for a large part, it is a Favourite for Deer Hunters with the only readily accessible herd of Virginian Whitetail deer in the Southern Hemisphere, equally for Naturalists with abundant wildlife and Tramping around the Island is Inspiring, you can be totally alone if you want to be, it also has some great Diving, A warm current from the Australian Great Barrier Reef flows onto Stewart Island. This brings a much more diverse variety of marine creatures than would normally be found in waters of this latitude.

Here is a good site to check out some info on Stewart Island.
Stewart Island

Stewart Island is one of those places where it's nice to visit but expensive to live, you can only access the island by either the Ferry from Bluff or single engine plane from the Invercargill Airport, i have only ventured on the ferry and lucky for me it was a flat crossing there and back, Foveux Strait between Bluff and Stewart Island is notorious as being one of the roughest in the world, this is mainly because of the fact that it is quite shallow so the swells can really get up, take the plane if you are susceptible to sea sickness.

There are a few Motels,Hotels and B&B'S on the island to stay but make sure you book, especially if you are thinking about the summer months as this is the most popular time.

Almost everything must be brought to the island on these Ferry's so they provide an important service to this remote settlement although only an hour away.
You can cycle or walk alot of the Island Easily or they do hire cars, but be warned the vehicles can be a bit rough, alot of vehicals tend to be retired there but still do the job. Enough said.

One event that Stewart Island holds every year is the Southern Most Singles Ball in the world
which is generally held around August every year, i havent been but from what i hear it can get fairly wild, in a good way, lots of party all round.

It's a beautiful place, one that should be visited at least once and with so many diversified things to do from: Kayaking,Hunting,Tramping,Diving,Fishing,Nature Viewing and more it has it all, just bring Warm Clothing and a Rain wear and you will be fine.

Aussie Pete

New Zealand from an Aussie Perspective

I would like to share some of my thoughts, sights and places that i have been to here in New Zealand.
It is beautiful and exciting with some of the most awesome views you will ever see, if you some want swiss alps then New Zealand is a good comparison with a little more thrown in.

In such a small country you can pursue activities such as Skiing, Adventure Sports such as Jet Boating, Bungy Jumping, Caving, Volcano Watching, Hunting, Fishing of all types and the list goes on, to the sedate and tranquill scenes of sitting in Thermal Pools soaking up the minerals or watching seals and penquins basking in the warmth of the sun.

And the Amazing thing is that all this is within a short distance from each other, i can literally travel from Invercargill to Nelson, the bottom to the top of the South Island in around 12 Hours or less.
You can be in Christchurch and Skiing in under 2 Hours, no wonder alot of tourists hire vehicles and travel around, it's so easy.

Now i might be sounding like an Advertisement for New Zealand but i'm not, these are just the facts, all i want to do is share what i have seen and done from an Aussie perspective, i have been here since 2002 and have done alot in my short time.

Follow me on this journey from the bottom to the top and experience your own piece of heaven through my travels.