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Invercargill
Invercargill is New Zealand's southernmost City with a population of 57,900. It was founded in 1856 and was named after Captain William Cargill. It is well known for its wide streets in a gridded layout which was done by John Turnbull Thomson who laid out the city in the 1850s naming the main streets after Scottish rivers. Some Examples are Dee Street, Clyde Street, Tay Street and Tweed Street. There are now a total 44 Streets named after rivers.
Bluff
Bluff is New Zealand’s southernmost town, and port for the Southland Region. Bluff is best known for the Bluff Oyster. Each year, the town holds the famous Winter attraction known as "The Bluff Oyster and Food Festival" held every May. It is also the end of New Zealand's main road, State Highway 1 where Stirling Point is located and is a popular spot for tourists to take a picture with the sign.
The Water Tower
Invercargill is built on entirely flat land. Twelve months' work and 300,000 bricks gave Invercargill a 42.6m high landmark in 1889. Built originally as the primary means of pressurising the city’s water reticulation system, the Water Tower is still a working part of that system but now in a ”back up” role. The Water Tower, which is seen in the header of this page, is an iconic landmark.
Burt Munro
In 1967, 68-year-old Invercargill native Burt Munro made motorcycle history by setting a new official land speed record - 184.087 mph with unofficial top speed of 205.67 mph - when he raced his heavily modified 1920 Indian Scout Streamliner across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, U.S.A. He practiced this at Oreti Beach in Invercargill, seen in the following picture. This feat was illustrated in a movie entitled "The Worlds Fastest Indian" where Burt was played by Anthony Hopkins. Every year, motorbike enthusiasts from all over the world come to participate in "The Burt Munro Challenge" for a full week of activities.
Oreti Beach
Oreti beach is often described as a "coastal highway" as it is one of the only beaches in New Zealand that vehicles are allowed to drive on. At around 26 kilometers (or 16 miles) in length, the beach provided Southland's motorcycling hero Burt Munro with a testing and racing site for his modified Indian motorcycle.
Cheese Rolls
One of Invercargill's Iconic foods is a Cheese Roll. The Cheese Roll is perhaps one of our most sacred treasures. Also called "southern sushi" it is created by covering a slice of bread in a prepared filling consisting mainly of grated or sliced cheese, and then rolling it into a tube shape before toasting. However, they are more than just cheese and bread. These rolls are the embodiment of Southland, and they hook you in from the first bite.
Queens Park
Queens Park is the 'Central Park' of Invercargill and is a jewel in the crown of the city's reserve. It is widely acclaimed through out New Zealand. Located just north of Invercargill's city center, Queens Park sprawls across 80 beautiful hectares. Special features include a beautiful and varied rose garden, dramatic tree-lined walkways, tracks through native forest, a Japanese garden and more. An indoor winter garden features tropical and flowering plants; cacti are displayed in an adjoining house. Queens Park also has an impressive bird aviary, animal enclosures, children's play areas, extensive sporting facilities and cafés. It is also home to Henry as seen in the next picture.
Tuatara
Henry is the oldest Tuatara alive. Tuatara are a rare reptile found only in New Zealand and are New Zealand’s largest reptile. They are the last survivors of an order of reptiles that thrived in the age of the dinosaurs. Adult males are about 0.5 metres in length, and weigh up to 1.5 kg, or 3.3lbs, when fully grown. The male has a distinctive crest of spines running along the neck and down the back. Tuatara have one of the slowest growth rates of any reptile. They keep growing until they are about 35 years old. A tuatara’s average life span is about 60 years, but they can live up to 100 years. Henry is estimated to be 120+ years old.
Invercargill March
The "Invercargill March" is an internationally famous tune that was written by Alex Lithgow who attended Invercargill Grammar School (now Middle School). In his book Invercargill – 150 Years, Lloyd Esler's opening sentence reads, "Invercargill was done a fine favour by Alex Lithgow who named his famous march after his boyhood home.
When Invercargill hosted the national brass band contest in 1909, Alex's brother Tom asked for a test piece for the contest and Alex offered this piece to the city. On the music he wrote,
"To Invercargill, the Southernmost City in New Zealand (End of the World), and its Citizens, I dedicate this March as a memento of the many pleasant years spent there in my boyhood."
Aurora Australis
Aurora Australis (also known as the southern lights, and southern polar lights) is the southern hemisphere counterpart to the Aurora Borealis. Although it isn't as clear with the naked eye, it is still visible and attracts keen photographers far and wide. The above photo was taken by one of the local brothers.
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