Things to do in Fiordland & Southland
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Duo
Just off Invercargill’s main drag, the elegant Duo has good-value lunch specials (all $15) and a more expensive evening menu. Standout menu items include smoked salmon, herb-and-feta-crusted pork steaks, and oven-baked blue cod. The wine list travels mainly to nearby Central Otago for some hard-to-find boutique tipples.
reviewed
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Tillermans Music Lounge
Upstairs from Don St, Tillerman’s is an alternative live music/DJ venue, with live music ranging from local thrash bands to visiting rock or reggae talents, and DJs doing mostly dub and house. Decrepit black couches and a battered old dance floor prove its credentials. Free entry Thursdays.
reviewed
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Fiordland Community Pool
reviewed
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Anderson Park Art Gallery
In a 1925 Georgian-style manor, this gallery contains works from many NZ artists. There are beautiful, original antique furnishings, block prints, pottery, sculptures, grand landscapes, Greek-mythic Maori village scenes, and portraits. Visit the tearoom to partake of a very civilised (free) cup of tea. Outside, 24 hectares of landscaped gardens are a lovely place to linger, with trees and trails, a children’s playground and a wharepuni (sleeping house). The gallery is 7km north of the city centre; follow North Rd then turn right into McIvor Rd.
reviewed
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Milford Sound Mariner Overnight Cruise
by Viator
An overnight cruise amidst spectacular Milford Sound, is a once in a lifetime experience. While on board the Milford Mariner you will cruise the full length of …
Not LP reviewed
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El Tigre
Sick of small-town restaurants that all basically serve the same meal? Stop with the crazy pills and hunt out this funky little restaurant (slightly tricky to spot from the street). The menu is eclectic, with interesting touches such as ratatouille with your ostrich, or apricot sauce with your lamb backstrap. Sit near the kitchen at your peril – the smells from within can quickly drive you insane with hunger. Hip, distressed interior, lounge music, atmospheric lighting and service that cares make it our top pick in town.
reviewed
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Invercargill Brewery
The Invercargill Brewery promotes itself as NZ’s southernmost microbrewery, but in reality, its beers are good enough for anywhere in the country. Tastings of the range are free of charge, and if you’re a real beer buff, the staff may be able to show you around the brewery (but only if they’re not busy). Our favourites are the crisp Biman Pilsner and the hoppy Stanley Green Pale Ale. Regular seasonal brews are also concocted, including Smokin’ Bishop, a German-style rauchbier made with smoked malt.
reviewed
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Redcliff Bar & Restaurant
Housed in a replica old settler’s cottage, Redcliff specialises in a buzzy, convivial atmosphere and locally sourced produce. Try the wild Fiordland venison or tender herby hare. Wine is affordably priced, but a few more options by the glass wouldn’t go amiss. They don’t take bookings so kick off your night with a drink in the rustic front bar; it’s also the place in town for a quiet after-dinner drink. There’s occasional live music and a permanent friendly vibe with excellent service.
reviewed
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Milford Deep Underwater Observatory
Milford Deep Underwater Observatory is a five-storey mostly submerged building that dangles from a system of interlinked pontoons attached to a rock face. Four storeys below the surface are resident deep-water corals, tube anemones and bottom-dwelling sea perch. The observatory visits are informative, but the accompanying tour groups may dilute the experience. Various operators stop here (charging around $29/15 extra for adults/kids), but not the late-afternoon cruises.
reviewed
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Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau
9 hours (Departs Te Anau, New Zealand)
by Viator
Your Doubtful Sound adventure begins as you cruise the crystal clear waters of Lake Manapouri. Then it's over Wilmot Pass, stopping along the way to experience …
Not LP reviewed
from USD$161.53 Advertisement
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Buster Crabb
Inexplicably named after a British navy frogman who went missing in 1956, Buster Crabb overcomes a silly name to transform a spacious heritage-listed villa into a cosmopolitan dining experience. Local farming types – doing very well thank you – crowd in for scallops, pork belly, venison and blue cod. A tiny deck is a late afternoon suntrap, and it’s one of the only places in town that serves the Invercargill Brewery’s excellent Pitch Black stout on tap.
reviewed
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Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour
2 hours 30 minutes (Departs Te Anau, New Zealand)
by Viator
The fascinating Te Anau caves system on the western shore of Lake Te Anau offers an underground adventure that charms visitors of all ages. This tour takes you …
Not LP reviewed
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Stadium Southland
Stadium Southland is home to Invercargill’s extremely successful and popular Southern Steel women’s netball team (www.southern steel.co.nz; season April to July). You can try out rock climbing here from $5 (7pm Tuesdays and Thursdays) and there’s also New Zealand’s only indoor velodrome. Come along Tuesday at 5.30pm for the opportunity (per hour $10) to get high on the wall on two wheels. Coaching is provided.
reviewed
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Fat Duck
Friendly service overcomes the slightly bland decor, and the Fat Duck gets top-notch reviews from most travellers. Dishes are tasty, and hearty in proportions, and variations on basics such as crispy duck, pork belly and salmon are imaginative. There’s a bar almost as long as Doubtful Sound if you just want a drink before kicking on somewhere else. Closed Monday and Tuesday outside of the peak season.
reviewed
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Milford Sound Mariner Overnight Cruise from Te Anau
by Viator
An overnight cruise amidst spectacular Milford Sound, is a once in a lifetime experience. While on board the Milford Mariner you will cruise the full length of …
Not LP reviewed
from USD$257.09 -
Milford Sound Sightseeing Cruise including Optional Lunch
1 hour and 45 minutes (Departs Milford Sound, New Zealand)
by Viator
Towering peaks and cascading waterfalls - this has to be the spectacular Milford Sound. Described as the 'Eighth Natural Wonder of the World', this cruise will …Not LP reviewed
from USD$57.64 -
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Louie’s Café
This cosy, mellow little cafe-bar specialises in delicious tapas-style snacks, and there’s a concise blackboard menu, too. It’s a great spot for a late-night wine or an organic beer. Relax near the fireside, tuck yourself away in various nooks and crannies, or spread out on a comfy padded sofa and enjoy the chilled-out music. There are occasional live gigs.
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Milford Track Guided Day Walk from Te Anau
9 hours (Departs Te Anau, New Zealand)
by Viator
Soak up the magnificent scenery of the Milford Track, often described as one of the finest walks in the world. On this day trip from Te Anau, you'll walk the fi…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$147.88 -
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Three Bean Café
Believe us, we’ve done the hard yards for the discerning caffeine hound, and hands-down Invercargill’s best coffee is at this cosmopolitan main drag cafe. There are switched-on staff that remember you from the day before, and a tasty array of food – kick your day off with a salmon bagel ($11). Leave room for a baked slice of something sweet.
reviewed
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Devil Burger
Only open a couple of weeks when we dropped by, and already doing great business with tasty gourmet burgers and healthy wraps. Their own beer is on tap, there’s loads of vegie options on offer, and even the phone number is a sly in-joke. On weekends, expect crowds of hungry burger fans from upstairs at Tillermans Music Lounge.
reviewed
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Seriously Good Chocolate Company
This sunny spot a short walk from central Invercargill specialises in individual homemade chocolates. Order a coffee and then abandon yourself to the difficult task of choosing flavours. The chilli and peanut cluster variations were both good enough for us to return a second day. Like it says on the tin…seriously good.
reviewed
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One Blue Dog
Advertising four Jäger and Red Bulls for 30 bucks when we dropped by, this compact upstairs bar has free pool tables and a raucous devil-may-care, don’t-waste-the-weekend atmosphere. DJs and occasional bands kick in later at night. It’s definitely not sophisticated, but after four Jägerbombs, will you really care?
reviewed
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Milford Sound Full-Day Tour from Te Anau
7 hours 30 minutes (Departs Te Anau, New Zealand)
by Viator
Be mesmerized by the World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound on this full-day tour from Te Anau.Depart Te Anau, the "Gateway to Fiordlan…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$119.82 -
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Zookeepers Cafe
Easily spotted by the giant corrugated-iron elephant on the ceiling. The zoo-keeping staff are laid-back and friendly, and the meals are good value and tasty. Tuck into a warm balsamic beef salad or sip an Invercargill Brewery beer. Try the Wasp lager, a southern honey-infused spin on a traditional Pilsner.
reviewed
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Saints & Sinners
This is the nightclub that ate Invercargill – an intricate collage of bars, pool halls, dance floors and flashing lights. Maybe take a GPS with you. While entrapped, you’ll discover Saints & Sinners, the preferred live music venue for touring Kiwi bands, and the raucous Players Entertainment Venue.
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