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2 cities
Region · Otago and Southland
Southland
Southland has Fiordland National Park, with Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound, Te Anau, the Bluff oysters, Invercargill and Stewart Island (Rakiura), at the far south of the country.
In the photo: Doubtful Sound in Southland
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The region
Get to know Southland
Southland (Te Taiao Tonga) is the southernmost region of New Zealand, from the Foveaux Strait coast to the Fiordland mountains. Most of the territory is occupied by Fiordland National Park, the largest in the country, and the rest is pasture plains. The council seat is Invercargill.
Fiordland, part of the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage area, has fjords carved by glaciers, forested mountains and waterfalls that multiply after rain. Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) is the most visited: boats and kayaks travel the fiord out to the Tasman Sea beneath Mitre Peak. Doubtful Sound (Patea), larger and more isolated, is reached by boat via Lake Manapouri and a mountain road.
Te Anau, on the shore of the South Island’s largest lake, is the base for Fiordland. The Milford Road (SH94) leaves the town, passing through the Eglinton Valley and Homer Tunnel, and the region is the start of the Milford Track and the Kepler Track, two Great Walks; the Routeburn Track finishes on the same road. Across the lake, the Te Anau caves have glowworms and are visited by boat. Manapouri, about 20 km away, is the departure point for Doubtful Sound.
Invercargill, in the south, has a large transport museum and the legacy of motorcyclist Burt Munro. In Bluff, about 30 km away, oysters harvested in the Foveaux Strait are in season from March to August. The ferry to Stewart Island (Rakiura) leaves from Bluff; most of the island is a national park with trails and native birds, including the Stewart kiwi.
The Catlins, on the coast between Southland and Otago, have forests that reach the sea, waterfalls and lighthouses.
Destinations
1 destination in Southland
Cities
2 cities in Southland in the guide
Southland
Manapōuri
Manapouri is a village of about 270 residents on the east shore of Lake Manapouri, 21 km from Te Anau. Boats leave from the Pearl Harbour wharf to cross the lake en route to Doubtful Sound (Patea). The village recalls the Save Manapouri campaign, regarded as the country’s first major environmental movement.
Southland
Te Anau
Te Anau is the gateway to Fiordland, on the shore of Lake Te Anau, the largest on the South Island. From here the 119 km road to Milford Sound begins, and on the far side of the lake are the Te Ana-au glowworm caves. The town is the start of the Kepler Track and has a bird sanctuary where takahēs can be seen.
When to go
From December to March the days are longer and the weather milder, good for the Great Walks, whose season runs from late October to late April. Fiordland is one of the wettest regions in the country, and the rain feeds the fiord waterfalls. In winter, from June to August, it is cold, the days are short and the Milford Road can close due to snow.
Getting there
Invercargill Airport (IVC) has flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and Queenstown Airport (ZQN), about 170 km from Te Anau, is the most used gateway for Fiordland. By road, Te Anau is about 2 hours from Queenstown and about 155 km from Invercargill; from Te Anau to Milford Sound is about 120 km, with daily buses and tours. There are also scenic flights to Milford Sound from Queenstown and Te Anau.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Southland
How to get to Milford Sound?
By car or bus from Te Anau along the Milford Road, or by scenic flight from Queenstown or Te Anau. In the fiord, cruises and kayak trips depart from the boat terminal. There are day tours from Queenstown, but the round trip by road exceeds 8 hours.
Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound?
Milford Sound is more accessible and can be done in half a day from Te Anau. Doubtful Sound requires a full day, with a boat across Lake Manapouri and a mountain road before the cruise, and receives fewer visitors; there are also overnight cruises.
Does the Milford Road close in winter?
It can close due to snow or avalanche risk, and from May to November it is mandatory to carry chains on your vehicle. Check the road status before leaving Te Anau.
When to try the Bluff oysters?
The season runs from March to August, and during that period oysters are sold in Bluff, in Invercargill and in restaurants around the country. The Bluff Oyster Festival usually takes place in May.
How to get to Stewart Island?
The passenger ferry leaves from Bluff and crosses the Foveaux Strait in about one hour; there are also short flights from Invercargill. On the island, the village of Oban concentrates accommodation and services.