Southland

What to see

Stewart Island, a ferry ride south from Bluff, is mostly national park and one of the few places you have a real chance of seeing a wild kiwi, as they come out on the beaches at night. The Catlins, between Invercargill and Dunedin, has waterfalls like Purakaunui Falls, the petrified forest at Curio Bay, and sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins on the beaches.

• Stewart Island for wild kiwi and bush walks
• Curio Bay petrified forest and Hector's dolphins
• Purakaunui Falls and the Catlins waterfalls
• Bluff at the bottom of the South Island, known for oysters

Getting around

A car is essential for the Catlins, as there is little public transport and the sights are spread along the coast. Invercargill to Dunedin through the Catlins is a full day with stops, not a quick drive. Stewart Island is reached by a 1 hour ferry from Bluff (often rough) or a short flight, and the island itself is best on foot.

When to go

Summer has the longest days and the warmest weather, useful this far south, and is best for the beaches and walks. The kiwi viewing on Stewart Island runs year round, weather and tide allowing. Winter is cold, short on daylight and quiet, and some smaller operators close for the season.

Honest notes

This is the far south, so it is colder and windier than most of the country, and the weather changes fast even in summer, so pack warm and waterproof layers. The Bluff to Stewart Island ferry crossing is often rough, so take seasickness tablets if you are prone to it. The Catlins roads include gravel sections, so drive to the conditions.

Costs and practical tips

The Catlins waterfalls, beaches and lookouts are all free, so the region is cheap once you are there, though it is remote enough that fuel and food cost a little more and shops are few. The Stewart Island ferry runs around NZ$100 return, and a guided night kiwi-spotting tour on the island is extra but the surest way to actually see one. Invercargill is the place to stock up before the Catlins or the ferry.

• Nugget Point lighthouse and its rocky islets are a short walk and a regional highlight
• Curio Bay has a petrified forest visible at low tide and yellow-eyed penguins at dusk
• Bluff oysters are in season roughly March to August if you want to try them fresh

How to fit it in

Most travellers drive the Catlins coast between Invercargill and Dunedin, which links Southland with Otago and takes a full day with stops rather than a quick transfer. Stewart Island is a separate commitment of a night or two, reached from Bluff at the bottom of the South Island. If kiwi are the goal, the island is the best chance in the country, weather and tides allowing.

Good to know

A car is essential here, as the Catlins sights are spread along the coast with little public transport, and some access roads are gravel. This is the far south, so it is cold and windy by New Zealand standards even in summer, and the weather turns fast, so pack warm and waterproof. The Bluff ferry can be rough, so take tablets if you are prone to seasickness. Tap water is safe and cards are taken in the towns.