Boosted by riches from the 1861 gold rush, the city grew from an isolated outpost to a bastion of European culture. whose architecture could be equally at home in Edinburgh, from which is draws its name. With New Zealand's oldest university and a thriving youth culture and rock music scene, abundant pubs and cafes, this is the place for lively nightlife as well.
North and South of the city, the rugged coast is peppered with unusual geological formations, sheltered sandy bays and sheer cliffs, including those of the Catlins, a vast forest and coastal reserve, popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Not surprisingly, the region's wildlife in a big draw, with onshore colonies of penguins and albatrosses on the scenic Otago Peninsula, which also boasts the dazzling rhododendron gardens at Glenfalloch and the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre - well worth a visit! For rail enthusiasts, the 77km Tairei Gorge Railway ranks among the world's great rail journeys, heading inland toward the gold fields of Central Otago.
Invercargill, New Zealand's southernmost city has a marked Scottish character and its streets echo the names of highland rivers. Ferries depart from the nearby port of Bluff for the hour-long crossing to Stewart Island, where with luck and patience, the kiwi, a national icon, can be spotted in the wild. Oamaru, the region's third city, is famed for its elegant white limestone buildings and Victorian gardens.
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Northland