Hokonui / Gore District

gore mapThe Hokonui Gore District, sometimes called Eastern Southland, boasts an eclectic mix of heritage, culture, and industry.

Maruawai Gore, Southland's second largest town, is well known for its connection with country music, having hosted the annual National Country Music Awards for 36 years. The town also presents the impressive Eastern Southland Art Gallery and revels in its colourful illicit whisky-making past and farming heritage through various historical attractions, such as the Hokonui Moonshine Museum and the Hokonui Pioneer Village and Museum

The town lies on the banks of the Mataura River. The river is a fisherman's dream, with nearly 150km of easily accessible waters internationally renowned for brown trout fly-fishing. It's no wonder the activity has been popular in the area since the 1870's and Gore is now known as the "Brown Trout Fly Fishing Capital of the World"! Hard to miss, the giant brown trout statue in Gore is a national icon and is photographed by thousands of tourists each year.

Maruawai Gore also has many stunning public parks and gardens, perfect for family picnics, sports, and recreation. The impressive Gore Multisports Complex, comprised of an aquatic centre, an ice rink and an indoor sports stadium, offers sporting and fitness activities and events all year round. The town's main street is littered with colourful shop windows, providing you with whatever you need for your foodie or shopper heart. 

The town of Mataura is known for its historic paper mill and freezing works. The freezing works is still operating today and is known to be the largest freezing works in the country. Edendale is home to a large Fonterra dairy factory - one of the region's biggest employers and the world's largest raw milk processing plant. In spring, this town really comes to full bloom as most fields are part of a tulip farm. There are more than 30 varieties of vibrant tulips planted in the fields. It's the country's largest tulip bulb producer and exports its beautiful blooms to various countries around the world. Keep your eyes open for the announcement of Tulip Open Day; your Instagram feed could never go wrong with selfies at the tulip farm! 

Waimumu hosts the biennial Southern Field Days, where farming businesses have been promoting rural technology and services since 1982, and it's a fun day out for the whole family, too! A drawcard of the peaceful settlement of Wyndham Mokoreta is the tranquil Maple Glen Gardens, a 30-acre private garden, nursery, aviary, woodland and wetland. And in Mandeville, you can view a spectacular collection of vintage aircraft – perhaps even take to the skies on a thrilling scenic flight in one of the restored planes.

Discover more about Gore District at GoreNZ.com.

Discover

Gore District

You won't want to miss...

When planning your trip to Gore District, make sure you check out these iconic and unmissable events!

You're Due South

Are you a self-proclaimed Foodie? Or maybe you're more of an Explorer at heart. Do you want to dust off the Swanndri and go rural for a bit...or embrace your inner Free Spirit? Or maybe you…

Northern Southland Biking - Welcome Rock Trails
Videocopter NZ

Heartland Agritourism Adventures

1-3 Days

456 km

Summer/Autumn

Keen to get off the beaten track? This adventure will take you into the outdoors and fresh air of rural Southland, making you wonder why you hadn’t done it sooner. Starting along the rugged…

3 days Mountain Biking in Southland

3 Days

Anytime

For those who like a challenging mix of off-road climbing and technical descents across all types of terrain this epic 3-day mountain biking itinerary takes you to three of Southlands most…

The History Buff

3 Days

340 km

Anytime

The history of Murihiku Southland is rich and varied, with each part of the region embracing their own unique past. View lighthouses and whalers' sites, moonshine distilleries, and Victorian…

crosshair icon View All Southland Roadtrips

Explore Murihiku Southland

Invercargill Central
Stacy Williamson

Invercargill

Waihōpai Invercargill is the regional capital and commercial hub of Southland. Founded in the 1850s, it is New Zealand’s southernmost city - and one of the southernmost cities in the world. Numerous… Read More

Fiordland

Te Rua-o-te-Moko Fiordland is a place of extraordinary scenic beauty. One of New Zealand’s oldest tourism drawcards, this rugged and remote region offers awe-inspiring landscapes and a wide range of… Read More

Stewart Island

Rakiura Stewart Island is the southernmost and smallest island of the three main islands of New Zealand. Just 30km from the South Island, it is a perfect retreat for those seeking peace, quiet, and… Read More

Florence Hill Lookout, The Catlins
Florence Hill Lookout, The Catlins

The Catlins

The Catlins, the spectacular coastal stretch between Balclutha and Invercargill, boasts a rugged beauty and untouched quality that is magnetic. Here you’ll find a world of native forests fringed by high… Read More

Bluff

Southland’s port, Motupōhue Bluff, lies thirty kilometres south of Invercargill. The town, which is the southernmost settlement on mainland New Zealand, is home to the iconic Bluff Oyster & Food… Read More

Central Southland
Sam Deuchrass

Central Southland

Central Southland is 1.5 million hectares of lush, rolling farmland. The district has always thrived on agriculture, although sawmills, flax and linen-flax industries, lime works, brickworks and tile works… Read More

Mores Scenic Reserve Lookout, Western Southland
Sam Deuchrass

Western Southland

Tucked between the towering peaks of Fiordland to the west, the Takitimu mountain range to the north, and the wild ocean to the south, Western Southland boasts spectacular unspoilt scenery and limitless… Read More