Bluff

Introducing Bluff

Unimpressive little Bluff (www.bluff.co.nz) is Invercargill’s port, 27km south of the city. Really, the main reasons to come here are to catch the ferry to Stewart Island, pose for photos beside the Stirling Point signpost or buy some of the famous Bluff oysters straight from the wharf.

While Bluff isn’t the South Island’s southernmost point (that claim to fame belongs to Slope Point in the Catlins), and even though Stewart Island and other dots of rock lie even further south, the phrase ‘from Cape Reinga to Bluff’ is oft-quoted to signify the entire length of NZ, the Kiwi equivalent of ‘Land’s End to John o’ Groats’. NZ’s main highway, SH1, terminates south of Bluff at Stirling Point, so it really does feel like the end of the country.

Kids will enjoy the small Bluff Maritime Museum (03-212 7534; 241 Foreshore Rd; adult/child $2/free; 10am-4.30pm Mon-Fri, 1-5pm Sat & Sun) for the chance to clamber over a century-old oyster boat, while steam nerds will enjoy the chance to set pistons flying around convincingly on a big old 600hp steam engine.

If you’ve got some time to kill, tackle Foveaux Walk (2½ hours return, 6.6km), a walkway from the signpost around the rugged coast to Ocean Beach. Alternatively, follow that track for 1km and return through rimu and rata forest via the 1.5km Glory Track. Drive or walk the 3km to the observation point on top of 265m-high Bluff Hill (accessed off Lee St) for a great view of Stewart Island. Pick up Bluff Walking Tracks (free) from the Invercargill i-SITE. (Grab a map of town while you’re there.)

The Bluff Oyster & Southland Seafood Festival celebrates Bluff’s most famous, plump, delicious little exports, and is held annually in April or May. The oysters are in season from late March to late August.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009