One of the only southernmost cities in the world and the regional capital and commercial hub of Southland, Invercargill is one of the charming cities in South Island, New Zealand. The Edwardian, Victorian, and Art Deco legacy architecture makes the city an endearing old-world character. Invercargill is well-equipped with vibrant bars, cosy eateries and a wide range of fantastic marts. You’ll find that Invercargill is heavily obsessed with wheel objects, so you can easily experience wheel mania. Enjoy a ride at the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome or explore the world-class vintage truck collection at one of the most famous Bill Richardson Transport World. You’ll also find an incredible array of seaside terrains just short of the city centre that you can explore, from the longshore highway of Oreti Beach to the aboriginal phenomena of Waituna Wetlands and Omaui. Invercargill is a perfect city with vintage collections of things, whether they are buildings or trucks.
Things To Do In Invercargill
Invercargill has a lot of charming beaches, vibrant nightlife, excellent road trips, and multiple natural wonders. The city has a welcoming atmosphere and friendly locals keen to share local delicious eateries with every outsider. Architecture takes you into that era with the fantastic exhibition of museums and heritage. Invercargill is famous for its best city parks and reserves, offering adventurous activity and scenic surroundings. We prepare a list of the best things to do in Invercargill that you can explore in your journey.
1. Explore The Vintage Collection Of Vehicles at Transport World
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As we discussed, Invercargill is obsessed with things with wheels, and it is impossible not to be impressed with its Southern Hemisphere’s most extensive vintage collection of vehicles. At Bill Richardson’s Transport World, you can see some past beauties that have been restored successfully. As well as it displays Invercargill’s past and a World of Wearable Art (WOW) exhibition. After an hour or two of witnessing this antique collection of vehicles at this museum, relax and have a delicious dinner at the on-site American-style diner.
Fee: NZ$40 per adult and NZ$35 per student; Family pass NZ$100 (two adults and up to four children)
Location: 491 Tay Street, Hawthorndale, located about 2.3 kilometres from Invercargill city centre
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2. Visit Classic Motorcycle Mecca
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After exploring Bill Richardson’s Transport World, head to another classic motorcycle museum, famously known as Classic Motorcycle Mecca, located just 5 minutes from Transport World. This is the museum with the largest antique motorcycle collection in New Zealand. It has collections of Ivan Mauger and John Britten bikes, as well as a whole range of European, American, Japanese, and British bikes. The museum also has a motorcycle-themed art gallery and on-site cosy cafe, making it an ideal destination for bike lovers and adventure enthusiasts.
Fee: NZ$35 per adult and NZ$20 per child
Location: 25 Tay Street, Invercargill 9810, New Zealand
3. Indulge In Southland Special Dining
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Invercargill is located in the Southland region of New Zealand, which is famous for its dining specialities. The cosy dining with delectable cuisines and panoramic views of the seaside make your heart melt. It has multiple must-try dishes, such as Bluff Oysters, some of the most consumable dishes during the oyster season from March to August. Another popular food is the Southland Cheese Roll, served in most of the cafes in the city. It also has something to please your sweet cravings, such as the Seriously Good Chocolate Cafe, which serves artisan chocolates. Invercargill is a paradise for foodies.
Location: Corner McQuarrie Street, Tay Street, Elles Road at Invercargill
Price Range: ₹670.00 – ₹1,591.00
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4. Explore City’s Architectural Gems
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Invercargill has numerous Edwardian, Victorian and Art Deco legacy architectural buildings that form the city into a charming old-world texture that can be seen throughout the city. Witness the Invercargill Water Tower, a 40m high standing famous landmark, but unfortunately, there is no access to go inside; it is an excellent place to click memorable pictures with beautiful buildings. You can also click the outstanding photos of the Civic Theatre, one of the oldest performing Gothic-style art theatres built in 1905. There is no shortage of such events. The perfect time to attend events here is at night when it is beautifully sparkly. St Mary’s Basilica is a testament to heritage architecture, considered the prettiest church in New Zealand.
Location: Around Tyne Street, West Invercargill
How to reach: Just 800 metres from Invercargill Station
How To Reach Invercargill
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The only southernmost city in the world and Southland’s regional capital and commercial hub, Invercargill is easily reachable by Invercargill Airport (IVC). Air New Zealand offers several Economy, Premium Economy, or Business Premier Cabin flights to Invercargill. Use this guide to plan your trip.
By Bus: Invercargill offers local transport options for residents and tourists. Its public transportation system is operated by its Passenger Transport. With the local transport, you can easily travel from one side to another or in surrounding areas.
By Train: Travelling by train is unavailable in Invercargill, and you can’t reach the city by train as its primary transports are cars, buses, and flights.
By Air: Tourists from other countries can reach Invercargill by air. The nearest airport is Invercargill Airport (IVC), which is about 3 kilometres from the city centre.
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Exploring the only southernmost city in the world and witnessing its Edwardian, Victorian and Art Deco legacy buildings allows you to see the architectural beauty of Invercargill, New Zealand. It becomes a perfect holiday destination for your ultimate weekend getaway as it offers delicious dining, cosy cafes, and numerous tourist attractions which will not let you sit idle. So plan your trip to New Zealand with our guiding tour packages and begin your journey to witness the most beautiful and vintage collections of vehicles and indulge in the most delectable southland eateries.
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Cover Image Source: Eric Bréchemier for Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Invercargill
Why is Invercargill famous?
One of the only southernmost cities in the world and has Edwardian, Victorian and Art Deco heritage buildings making the city a charming old-world character.
Is Invercargill a town or city?
The regional capital and commercial hub of Southland, Invercargill is one of the charming cities in South Island, New Zealand and is well-equipped with vibrant bars, cosy eateries and a wide range of fantastic marts.
Is Invercargill worth visiting?
Yes, Invercargill has a lot of charming beaches, vibrant nightlife, excellent road trips, and multiple natural wonders. Along with this, Invercargill is also popular for its best city parks and reserves, offering adventurous activity and scenic surroundings.
What is the best time to visit Invercargill?
Invercargill is a perfect summer holiday destination if you like a warm climate as it has the coolest summers in the country. Although summer is the busiest season with huge crowds, if you want to escape the crowd, plan your trip in spring or winter.
Does Invercargill have a beach?
Yes, you can explore from the longshore highway of Oreti Beach to the aboriginal phenomena of Waituna Wetlands and Omaui. It is a great destination for those seeking adventure trails.
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