Take a drive to Bluff
One of New Zealand’s oldest settlements, Bluff is the gateway to Stewart Island and is a quick 30-minute drive from Invercargill.
If you are keen to explore the area and looking for things to do out of town, Bluff offers a glimpse into the local economy and local life.
Visitors flock in their droves to take a snap at the iconic Bluff signpost at Stirling Point overlooking the water. The bright yellow sign signals the end of New Zealand’s mainland, and visitors – especially those hailing from overseas – can amuse themselves by checking out exactly how far away they are from their home. It’s definitely one to add to the photo album!
Your visit to this port town is not complete without sampling its most famous export. Bluff is known around the world for its delicious oysters, which grow wild in beds deep in the icy-cold waters of Foveaux Strait (Te Ara a Kiwa) that lap at the town’s shores. Many of the boats in Bluff’s harbour are charged with gathering these. People around New Zealand count down to the oyster season opening every winter: the finest restaurants up and down New Zealand snap up as many of the oysters as they can, as quickly as they can. The town is also home to the annual Oyster Festival, which attracts a very enthusiastic crowd year after year!
At Stirling Point you will find the restaurant Oyster Cove. Choose a window table for a panoramic view of the roaring ocean below, and make sure you give their namesake a taste test when in season.
Finish your visit to Bluff with a walk along the coastal Foveaux Walk (two hours) or Glory Track (20-30 minutes) to enjoy the abundance of nature nearby.
Posted in: Attractions, Great things to do in Invercargill
