Getting around Southland

Getting around inside Southland is the easiest of any region in this collection. Getting out of it is the hardest. Check both before you commit.

The commute

Ten minutes across Invercargill, at any hour. The city was laid out on a generous grid with wide streets, and the traffic never arrived to fill them. Parking is free and abundant, including at the hospital. There is no rush hour to speak of.

If you are arriving from a large city, this is the change you will feel every single day. Clinicians tell us the reclaimed time is the thing they would least want to give back.

Beyond the city

The plains

Straight, quiet, well-sealed roads through farmland. Winton half an hour, Gore an hour, and almost no traffic on any of it.

The coast road

West to Riverton and the Catlins east — the Southern Scenic Route. Slower, winding and worth taking for its own sake.

The Fiordland road

Two hours north-west to Te Anau, then the Milford road beyond it — one of the great drives anywhere, and subject to avalanche closures in winter.

Winter conditions

Frost and fog rather than deep snow at sea level. Black ice on the plains at dawn is the real hazard, and the Milford road is the one to check properly.

Wildlife on the road

a factor at dawn and dusk on rural roads. Slow down.

Do you need a car?

Yes. There is a city bus network in Invercargill and it is useful, but the region assumes a vehicle and most households run two.

The ferry to Rakiura

From Bluff, thirty minutes south of the city, a passenger ferry crosses Foveaux Strait to Oban on Stewart Island in about an hour. There are also light aircraft from Invercargill Airport, which take twenty minutes and are often the better option in poor weather.

Worth knowing: Foveaux Strait has a reputation, and it earns it. The crossing can be rough. If you plan to work or travel to the island regularly, the flight is what most people end up doing.

Flying

Invercargill Airport

Ten minutes from the city, with regular flights to Christchurch and Auckland, and light aircraft to Rakiura.

Queenstown, two hours

The nearest airport with direct trans-Tasman flights. A number of Southlanders drive up for international travel, and it is a straightforward run.

Long-haul

Via Christchurch or Auckland, or a drive to Queenstown. This is the longest travel day of any region in this guide, and it is fair to weigh that.

Getting home

Budget a full day at each end. If you’ll be travelling to Europe or Africa several times a year, factor it in properly.

Distances worth knowing

Journey	Typical time
Across Invercargill	10 min
City → airport	10 min
City → Oreti Beach	15 min
City → Bluff	30 min
City → Winton	30 min
City → Riverton	40 min
City → Gore	1 hr
City → Te Anau	2 hr
City → Queenstown	2 hr
City → Dunedin	2 hr 15
City → Milford Sound	~4 hr
City → Christchurch	6 hr, or 1 hr 15 flying
Bluff → Oban, Rakiura	1 hr by ferry, 20 min by air

Times on dry roads. Add for frost and fog in winter, and always check the Milford road before setting out.

Converting your licence, buying a car, and what a warrant of fitness and registration involve are national matters, explained once in Driving & licences.

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