Stewart Island Electric Bikes
Stewart Island Electric Bikes © Air New Zealand

Places in Murihiku Southland

For those seeking an off-the-beaten-track adventure that's still easily accessible, Murihiku Southland is the perfect destination. Nestled in the Southern Edge of New Zealand, Southland is one of the country's largest regions, boasting a stunning array of lakes, rivers, mountains, and open plains. Its rugged coastline, stretching an impressive 3,400 kilometres, is one of Southland's most cherished treasures. Largely untouched by development and teeming with native wildlife, it offers visitors a serene escape into nature.

Southland Map

While the breathtaking landscapes draw visitors to Southland, it's the people who make them stay. Invercargill, the hub of Southland, exemplifies the region's warm hospitality. The combination of friendly locals, epic surroundings, and expansive open spaces creates a unique opportunity to find kinship and restore the soul. Murihiku Southland is a place where unforgettable adventures and lasting memories are made.

Invercargill Central
Stacy Williamson

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 heritage…

Milford Sound - Kayak
Rosco's Milford Sound Kayaks, 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…

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 adventure.

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

Te Akau Tai Toka The Catlins, the spectacular coastal stretch between Balclutha and Invercargill, boasts a rugged beauty and untouched quality that is just magnetic. Here, you’ll find a world of native forests…

Maruawai Gore and its surrounding district, sometimes called Eastern Southland, boasts an eclectic mix of heritage, culture, and industry. It is famous for its fly-fishing on the Mataura River, colourful…

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 Festival…

Mores Scenic Reserve Lookout, Western Southland
Mores Scenic Reserve Lookout © Sam Deuchrass

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…

Athol Biking - Around the Mountains Cycle Trail
Around the Mountains Cycle Trail, Athol

Northern Southland is a beautiful contrast of green, rolling farmland, majestic snow-capped mountains, and tussock clad high country.

Central Southland
Forest Hill Scenic Reserve © Sam Deuchrass

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 have all…