Top Things to do in Southland Region
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The 10 Best Free Things to do in Southland Region, South Island
Discover the best top things to do in Southland Region, New Zealand including Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu), Lake Marian Track, Milford sound Hwy, Foveaux Walkway, Gertrude Saddle, Lake Te Anau, Southern Scenic Route, E Hayes and Sons - The World's Fastest Indian, The Lighthouse Art Gallery and Cafe, Mirror Lakes Walk.
Restaurants in Southland Region
1. Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 658 reviews
Reviewed By 67arda - North Shore, New Zealand
we did both kepler and routeburn tracks = such a gem of an area and so pristine - lovely to meet full of like minded folk along the way who equally enjoyed taking the time to fully breathe in the environs ....tip - take your time and keep camera charged !
2. Lake Marian Track
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 70 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By StephenSue - Canberra, Australia
Having come straight from the Key Summit Walk, we didn't have the fitness or time for another long trek, and just did the short 20 minute hike to the falls. This is one of the best returns you'll get for a hike - there's heaps of parking, toilets, a great swing bridge entry across a spectacular river, a short mostly flat walk alongside the river and through some nice forest, and then a boardwalk hanging out over the falls. You could just about push a pram here if needed, but this short, easy walk also makes it very popular with tour groups, so be prepared to share the path. A nice short walk to finish off a long day, or for those who want a bit of a walk and some views without the effort on the way to, or from, MIlford Sound.
3. Milford sound Hwy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 239 reviews
Reviewed By Cruisey-Trudey - Palmerston, New Zealand
This drive along the Milford Highway is truly spectacular in our own back yard...entering into the Fiordland National Park.. no fences.. coming from a farming community, I noticed this first lol. The ever changing landscape towered by massive mountains, seeing the destruction the heavy rain fall can do, going through the Homer tunnel and meeting the Kaka up close was so awesome are just some of the things you see on this drive it really is breathtaking.
4. Foveaux Walkway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Kiwiseley - Auckland Central, New Zealand
We had parked to see the famous signpost, so decided to spend some time on this walk. The weather was beautiful and the scenery stunning. We walked for about twenty minutes before turning back. Hope to bet back again to do more of it. For the brave, you can take a side track up to the Bluff hill lookout.
5. Gertrude Saddle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By KazSydAustralia - Sydney, Australia
This is no ordinary NZ tramp. Tough because it does not have a normal track. Mostly rocks, streams, snow and everything in between. Best not to take young children because of the terrain. Just make sure you are fit and properly equipped. Good boots, nordic walking sticks, snacks, water bottle etc. Extraordinarily beautiful views along the way and right at the top, provided the weather is good on the day. So please check forecast before starting. So good luck.
6. Lake Te Anau
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,092 reviews
Reviewed By 151Sunseeker67 - Tauranga, New Zealand
So peaceful and beautiful, a must see on a south island trip and a peaceful contrast to the hussle and bussle of Queenstown. Plenty of places to stay and quite a few options for food as well as a good supermarket.
7. Southern Scenic Route
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 299 reviews
Reviewed By Rantinrover - Biggar, United Kingdom
In my original review of the Southern Scenic Route (SSR) back in April 2014 I indicated that there were places which we’d missed and would hopefully see on a return visit. It only took until March 2020 for us to finally get back! The SSR is a road trip through the southern part of New Zealand’s South Island which provides the traveller with an opportunity to see one of the less developed parts of the country, rugged coast and rural landscape, combined with waterfalls, small communities and wildlife. If you’re looking for a buzz and thrills and spills it may be better to stick to Queenstown. Some will do parts of the route in a day trip, others could easily spend a week or more depending upon interests and time available. Firstly it is advisable to get a copy of the SSR which is available online or at tourist info sites. This booklet provides maps and a brief description of the multitude of attractions along the route. This time around we travelled east to west from Dunedin to Queenstown and having previously visited Stewart Island, Fiordland and Queenstown itself we didn’t make any allowance for detours to these particular places. Dunedin is well worth exploring and we spent a few days there. Aside from a trip on the train up the Taieri Gorge which was enjoyable, we made time to visit the Otago Peninsula and see the albatrosses, have a workout on the dunes to reach Sandfly Bay and endured a similar test of the calf muscles at Tunnel Beach just to the south west of the city. For coastal scenery it would take a lot to beat Tunnel Beach which I would add to the “must do” list on the SSR. For those who enjoy going off the beaten track like us I would add a word of caution at this point. Keen to enjoy the coastline as much as possible as we headed south we ignored the SSR signpost to Waihola when we reached Taieri Mouth. We were sure that we could link up with the SSR after a short detour along the road beyond Taieri Beach. Yes, we did but our “short detour” took us around 40 minutes along unsealed roads, up and down hills, through forest along the Akatore Road on a route which was possibly more suited to rallying. Reaching Balclutha was a relief and an opportunity to get something to eat. It is also one of the few places where you can fill up your fuel tank so make the most of that unless you have already done so in Dunedin. With few food shopping opportunities and a limited amount of places to dine out on the SSR it would be wise to also have a few non-perishable emergency supplies if you plan to spread the visit over a few days. Be aware that stores, etc work more traditional hours in this area so you won’t find a 24 hour “MacDonald’s“. Likewise if you plan to stay over, book ahead. We stayed at Kaka Point for a night, a couple of nights at Curio Bay and a night at Riverton on this occasion. All good accommodation reviewed on TA separately where possible (Seascape Accommodation, Kaka Point & Curio Bay Accommodation, Curio Bay). The self-contained unit at Riverton was “Miro” on Bates Street which we booked via AirBnB. Kaka Point is a stone’s throw from Nugget Point Lighthouse, another on the “must do” list of the SSR in my view. This time around we spotted an entire seal colony clinging to the almost vertical cliffs of one of the “Nuggets” overlooked by the lighthouse. It was bizarre how such bulky creatures had managed to climb such heights. We also managed to see a pod of sea lions a bit further along the coast at Cannibal Bay. The road to Nugget Point Lighthouse is sealed now however the one to Cannibal Bay is not…prepare for a bumpy ride down that one. Quite a few of the gravel roads have been sealed since our last visit which saves on time but perhaps takes away a little of the adventure. Yet again we were unable to visit Cathedral Caves as this time the approach road was closed. We had been advised that tidal closures apart, this attraction had been closed for part of the season in any case. Just our misfortune. Check their website for details of when they are open to get the timing correct…and perhaps have a towel and change of clothing on standby. If waterfalls are an attraction our favourites are at McLean Falls which are not far from Cathedral Caves. Although the Purakaunui Falls are much-photographed we found them at bit disappointing last time and on this occasion we went instead to the Matai Falls/Horseshoe Falls (two for the price of one) and the lesser known Koropuku Falls. The Matai Falls were fairly modest, as were the Koropuku Falls however we found the trail to the latter was a bit of an adventure which added to the enjoyment - it was like stepping into a tropical forest. Curio Bay has benefited from a newly built visitor centre (with café/restaurant) located between the petrified forest and Porpoise Bay. The centre serves a function however the main attraction is still the surroundings. The petrified forest was an interesting distraction whilst we spoke to a DOC ranger and waited in vain for the yellow-eyed penguins to come ashore at dusk. That was a disappointment as we had seen some of these rare penguins on our previous visit and had been unaware that their numbers were dwindling further in current times. Porpoise Bay has a fabulous, wind-swept beach and often hosts a resident pod of Hector’s Dolphins but they were not playing when we were there. By chance, further along the coast at Waipapa Point Lighthouse, we saw a Blue Penguin in broad daylight. A ragged looking specimen which was going through the molting process and hence the reason it wasn’t at sea fishing during the day as would normally be the case. It was nonetheless an uplifting moment for us since it was very unexpected. The sea lions which frequent the area around the lighthouse were not around on this occasion! Slightly further on we couldn’t resist revisiting Slope Point, the most southerly spot on mainland South Island. It was still blowing a gale, as it seems to do most of the time, but was easier to get to by road since it is one of the routes which has been sealed. Our travels around Riverton and further north towards Queenstown were not only limited due to poor weather but also the restrictions introduced as a result of Covid-19 and we were again left with the thought that we’d see a few more things next time we visit. We travelled in March 2020 and by the time we reached Riverton the country went into Level 3 Alert putting paid to our plans this time for seeing some of the other attractions on the SSR. In the meantime hopefully nature and staycation New Zealanders will enjoy this lovely part of the country.
8. E Hayes and Sons - The World's Fastest Indian
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 829 reviews
E Hayes and Sons is a hardware, homeware, giftware and engineering supply store and visitor experience like no other. We’ve built a reputation for PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST serving the Invercargill and Southland region with an unmatched selection of quality goods, services and advice since 1932. Our entire store is also home to the unique E Hayes Motorworks Collection representing one of the finest private collections of classic motorcycles, automobiles and engines in New Zealand proudly built around our centerpiece - Burt Munro’s Authentic, Original and Legendary ‘World's Fastest Indian' motorcycle. The E Hayes Motorworks Collection and World's Fastest Indian is 100% FREE TO VIEW during our normal store opening hours.
Reviewed By brittneywhittinghamx - Hamilton, New Zealand
Wow, this is a 'must do' if ever visiting Invercargill. The shop is incredible to say the least! Obviously Burt Munro and the Worlds Fastest Indian was our reason for visiting but I did not realise how many other awesome items were on display. It is incredibly fascinating if you are in to seeing how objects, items, machinery and more have all evolved and changed over the years. With the shop being so large there is so much to see. You could spend hours here and buy almost any household item + more whilst you're at it. There is also a cafe and gift store inside. This was a great visit and amazing to have great NZ history on display all for free. They have done a brilliant job at this setup.
9. The Lighthouse Art Gallery and Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Local art , photography , post cards and art objects .
10. Mirror Lakes Walk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 258 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By Crispforest - Hobart, Australia
A short walk in the Fiordland with Lake Matheson vibes, Gondwanan plants and lots of birds. The perfect stop to stretch your legs between Te Anau and Milford Sound!
