From the glistening glassy quartz pea gravel beach to the amazing beauty of rust and green coloured alpine plants Awarua Wetlands are truly magical. Location: The Awarua Wetlands are located 20 km south east of Invercargill, Southland.
The Catlins Highway section of the Southern Scenic Route takes in the Catlins coastline and large tracts of native forest. Attractions include beaches, waterfalls and caves, wildlife viewing and the fossil forest at Curio Bay. Location: The Catlins Highway section of the Southern Scenic Route is on State Highway 92 between Invercargill, Owaka and Balclutha.
Explore the limestone caves and view the stalactites and glow worms within this rare Southland cave system. Location: The caves are located in western Southland. The cave entrance is signposted from the Clifden Gorge Road and parking is available adjacent to the caves entrance.
Croydon Bush shows what much of Southland once looked like with forest, grassland and shrubland communities. Adjacent Dolamore Park has native podocarp forest, expansive lawn areas and exotic plantings. Location: Croydon Bush is located approximately 10 kilometres to the north-west of Gore. Dolamore Park lies in the south-western end of the Croydon Bush Scenic Reserve.
Hector's dolphins/papakanua, marine wildlife and the fossilised remains of an ancient forest can be seen at Curio and Porpoise bays, on the southern coastline near Invercargill. Location: Curio Bay and Porpoise Bay are situated on the Catlins coast, 7 km south of Waikawa.
A remote recreational experience is preserved in Eyre Mountains Conservation Park to help ensure a real "backcountry" flavour, aided by a network of tracks, huts and shelters. Location: It is located to the southwest of Lake Wakatipu on SH 6 approximately one hour's drive from Invercargill or Queenstown.
Freshwater River wetland comprises a mosaic of acid bog, pools, mānuka/wire rush peatlands, mānuka shrubland, red tussock areas and patches of podocarp forest that extend for some 23 km along the Freshwater Valley to the intertidal mudflats at the river mouth. Location: Located on Stewart Island.
Mavora Lakes Park is an impressive landscape of mountains, lakes, forest and tussock grassland, recognised as part of the Te Wāhipounamu/South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area. Location: The Mavora Lakes are located on State Highway 94 between Mossburn and Te Anau.
Waikaia Forest is a large island of beech forest that is the home of four unique invertebrates. Piano Flat is a grassy enclosure providing a picnic area, "back to nature" camping ground and several walking tracks. Location: Waikaia Forest is located in the mountains of northern Southland. Piano Flat is situated at the southen end of Waikaia Forest.
Snowdon Forest is a popular area for visitors who can fish brown and rainbow trout; hunt deer, pigs or possums; or walk the many tracks. Alert: The tracks in Snowdon Forest are used infrequently; many are marked routes only. Location: It is flanked by SH 94 along Lake Te Anau's shoreline toward Te Anau Downs with Mossburn to the south and the Mavora Lakes and Livingstone Mountain road to the east of this national forest area.
Stewart Island/Rakiura is home to Rakiura National Park. The main settlement in Halfmoon Bay has several visitor centres and various accommodation options. From Halfmoon Bay you can take a range of day walks. Location: Stewart Island/Rakiura is located south of the South Island and is twenty minutes by plane from Invercargill or an hour by ferry from Bluff.
The subantarctic islands have World Heritage status and significant populations of unique marine animal and plant species. You need a permit to visit the islands and you must be accompanied by a government representative. Location: The five island groups that make up the subantarctic islands are located in the Southern Ocean south to south-east of New Zealand. Spanning six degrees of latitude, from 47 to 52 degrees south, the five island groups occupy the stormy latitudes of the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties, known also as the Albatross Latitudes.
The Takitimu Mountains are an impressive landform that provides opportunities for tramping, hunting and fishing amongst attractive open beech forest, tussock and screes. Location: The Takitimu Mountains are located in western Southland. Formed legal access is from Princhester Road (off SH 94) and the Dunrobin Valley Road south of Mossburn.
Ulva Island, off Stewart Island/Rakiura, is an island sanctuary that is open to the public. Free of introduced animal pests, it offers the chance to see native birds including saddleback, kakariki and kiwi. Location: The 3.5 kilometre-long Ulva Island is located in Paterson Inlet/Te Whaka a Te Wera, off Stewart Island/Rakiura.
By adjoining the Ulva Island Open Sanctuary, the 1075-hectare Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve extends the protection of this area from land to sea. Location: Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve is located in the outer portion of Paterson Inlet, on Stewart Island's east coast.
The Southern Scenic Route between Te Anau and Invercargill has many points of natural and historic interest and varied opportunities for recreation along the way. Location: The World Heritage Highway section of the Southern Scenic Route is a 200 kilometre drive through Te Anau, Tuatapere and Invercargill.
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