A Local's Guide to Invercargill

Invercargill gets overlooked. Most people blast through on the way to Bluff or Stewart Island, or skip it entirely. Fair enough, we're at the bottom of the country and the weather has a reputation. But if you give it a day or two there's a lot more here than you'd think. Here's where I'd send a mate who was visiting.

Start in town

The CBD is small and flat, so park once and walk.

• Start the morning at my shop, Otto's. It's at 25 Esk Street, right in the middle of town. Grab a coffee and something sweet to get you going. There's a coffee bar up the front, and a shop full of Japanese homewares, stationery, books and gifts. Have a nosey even if you're not buying anything. More on the coffee here.
• Classic Motorcycle Mecca, 25 Tay Street. Just around the corner from Otto's. Hundreds of old bikes across a few floors, and you don't need to be a motorbike person to enjoy it.
• E. Hayes & Sons on Dee Street. Yes, a hardware store. It's also got a heap of Burt Munro memorabilia from The World's Fastest Indian mixed in with the drill bits. Very Invercargill.
• He Waka Tuia, 42 Kelvin Street. The city's museum and art gallery space, with changing exhibitions. Good if you want an hour out of the wind.
• The water tower on Doon Street. A big old brick tower from 1889. You can't go up it, but it's worth a quick look on your way past.

Queens Park

A huge park right on the edge of town, with gardens, big old trees, an aviary, playgrounds and a golf course. Great for a walk or a picnic, and the kids will want to stay for hours. Take your coffee with you.

Bill Richardson Transport World

Out on Tay Street. A massive collection of old trucks, cars and all sorts, and one of the best things to do in town, especially when it's raining. You can get a combined ticket with Motorcycle Mecca if you want to do both.

Where to eat and drink

• The Batch Café on Spey Street for lunch. It's where locals go for proper, hearty café food, and it's one of my favourites. My go-to is the Vietnamese pancakes, and Satya behind the machine makes a great coffee too.
• Cheese rolls. You have to try at least one while you're in Southland. Most cafés and bakeries do them.
• Fat Bastard Pies for a proper pie. Get the steak and cheese.
• FlourBro for sourdough and baking.
• Koji is good for a group dinner.
• Gadoochi Brewing is a warehouse brewery with a food truck, which is a pretty good way to spend an evening.
• Toot Sweets is an old-school lolly shop. Worth it for the kids, or for yourself.
• Southern Farmers Market on Sunday mornings for local produce and food stalls.

If it's raining

It might be. Transport World, Motorcycle Mecca and He Waka Tuia will easily fill a day. And you can always come and hide in my shop with a flat white. Got kids with you? Keep reading.

Travelling with kids

Full disclosure, this one's mine too. Jump n Fun on Nith Street is all indoors, so it's perfect when the weather turns. It's got a world-class mini golf and laser tag setup. The laser tag arena is spaceship-themed and glow-in-the-dark, with fog, lights and lasers everywhere. There's also a trampoline park with a foam pit and dodgeball, Floor is Lava, and arcade games. Book online so you're not waiting around.

A few other good ones for kids: the playgrounds and aviary at Queens Park, the trucks at Transport World, a bag of lollies from Toot Sweets, and a run around on Oreti Beach when the sun's out.

Day trips

• Bluff is about half an hour south. Get your photo at the Stirling Point signpost, eat some seafood (oysters if they're in season), and do a tasting at Bluff Distillery. The Anchorage does kai Māori with a modern twist and is worth booking.
• Stewart Island / Rakiura. The ferry leaves from Bluff and takes about an hour. Even a day trip is worth it, but stay a night if you can.
• Oreti Beach is a long, flat, sandy beach about 15 minutes west of town. It's where Burt Munro used to race.
• Sandy Point has easy walking and biking tracks through the bush, just out of town.
• The Catlins are to the east, via the Southern Scenic Route. Think waterfalls, wild coast, and the lighthouse at Waipapa Point. Give yourself a full day at least.

Southern lights

Being this far south gives you a decent shot at seeing the aurora australis, especially on a clear night in the colder months. Head somewhere dark like Oreti Beach or Sandy Point, away from the town lights, and look south.

Where to stay

I care a lot about good design (it's kind of my whole thing), so here are two places I'd happily send friends.

• Distinction Invercargill is in the old Menzies government building on Esk Street, a few minutes' walk from Otto's. They've done a lovely job bringing an old building back to life, and the rooms are calm, well thought out and properly comfortable. The Retreat restaurant and bar downstairs is good for a drink too, even if you're not staying.
• The Lodges at Transport World on Anglem Street are eight apartments, each fitted out a little differently, right across from Transport World. It's a smaller, more private stay with a lot of care put into the details. They also do packages with museum tickets if you're planning to visit anyway.

Before you go

If you're after a gift or something to take home, swing by Otto's. There's a good range of gifts and lots of small things that fit in a suitcase. For anything that doesn't, just ask about sending it home.

Otto's is open 7 days at 25 Esk Street. Hours and directions are here. Come say hi.

Header photo of the Invercargill water tower by Bernard Spragg, public domain.