Our southernmost city, Invercargill offers all the trappings of city life with few of the drawbacks. As the main city in the Southland region, it is also the gateway to some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery. Over the past five or so years, the Invercargill City Council has actively instituted a range of innovations designed to bring businesses and people to the city. Introducing ‘zero fees’ education at the Southern Institute of Technology was one of these and has been an outstanding success.
At 3.6 million hectares, Southland is the largest province in New Zealand, and it features a blend of arable farmland where sheep, beef and dairy animals mix with forestry and a variety of crops. Off the coast, fishermen find crayfish, blue cod, oysters and abalone, as well as farming salmon and abalone.
With so much on offer, it’s not surprising outdoor recreation is so strong here. Some of the natural features are so stunning that they've been given World Heritage status. Invercargill and its surrounds are a haven for sea kayaking, skiing, jet boating and motor sports.