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Southland Recreation
With world heritage ranked Fiordland National Park and Rakiura/Stewart Island which is 85% national park, the outdoor recreation opportunities available in Southland are vast.
General recreation information
Southland has many stunning natural attractions all over the region, including forests, beaches, sounds, lakes, rivers, and gardens.
Southland | Tourism New Zealand
Sport and recreation
New Zealanders enjoy a huge range of sporting activities.
Check these sites to see what’s available in Southland and how you can get involved.
Find a sport | Active Southland
Sport and Recreation | Invercargill City Council
Sport and Recreation | Gore District Council
Splash Palace | Invercargill City Council
Clubs and groups
New Zealanders enjoy a wide range of sporting activities. Joining a club or team is a great way to meet people.
Your local community center may also run many different social activities and groups for the community to join.
The Citizen's Advice Bureau website also lists local clubs.
Gore Ice Rink | Ice Sports Southland
Sports in Southland | Citizens Advice Bureau
Outdoors
Tracks and Walks
Southland has many amazing walking tracks, from short hour-long tracks to multiday tramping adventures.
The region is also home to four of the country's 10 Great Walks.
You can find more information about the region's walking tracks on the Department of Conservation website.
You can find parks and open spaces available near you on your local council's website.
Walks in Southland | Department of Conservation
Visit our parks | Invercargill City Council
Parks and reserves | Southland District Council
Parks & recreation | Gore District Council
Cycling
You can explore much of Southland's scenery on its great outdoor cycling tracks.
Invercargill is also home to New Zealand's first indoor velodrome.
Mountain Biking and Cycling | Southland NZ
SIT Zero Fees Velodrome Opportunities | Cycling Southland
Hunting and fishing rules
Both fishing and hunting are a big part of life for many in the Southland region.
There are rules you must follow when hunting or fishing in New Zealand, and there can be serious penalties for breaching them.
The rules and tips for hunting on public conservation land are on the Department of Conservation website.
Information about fresh water fishing, game bird hunting, and how to buy a licence is on the Fish and Game NZ website.
Rules for fishing and gathering shellfish in the sea is on the Ministry of Primary Industries website.
Find places to go hunting | Department of Conservation
Licences | Fish and Game Southland
Southland area fishing rules | Ministry for Primary Industries
Fiordland area fishing rules | Ministry for Primary Industries
Animal regulations
New Zealand has various laws about looking after and controlling dogs and other animals.
Each council has their own bylaws so check out your local council website for details.
Animal Control | Invercargill City Council
Animal Control | Southland District Council
Dogs & Other Animals | Gore District Council
Art and culture
Museums and galleries
There are many museums and art galleries in the region for all types of interests and attractions, including Southland Museum and Art Gallery's Tuatarium, which is home to more than 100 tuatara (one of New Zealand's most iconic and endangered native lizard species), and Bill Richardson Transport World which houses hundreds of classic vehicles.
Check out these websites for more details.
Museums | Invercargill City Council
Events
Southland holds many events annually which bring visitors from all over New Zealand.
One of the most famous of these is the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival. Thousands of people come to the region every year to eat the national delicacy and take part in the celebrations.
Another highlight of the year is the Burt Munro Challenge. Motorcycle enthusiasts pack the city of Invercargill for a week of adrenalin filled racing.
Home | Bluff Oyster & Food Festival
Shopping
There is a wide range of shopping opportunities in Southland including department stores, gorgeous boutiques, high street shopping, and a great range of vintage/thrift stores.
Markets
You can get a taste of Southland's great produce direct from the local producer, every Sunday morning in Invercargill and Te Anau.