【Stop 2】New Zealand - Invercargill

Invercargill (English: Invercargill, Māori: Waihōpai) 🌏, also translated as Yinhuakagao, is the southernmost coastal city on New Zealand’s South Island and the capital of the Southland Region. Located in the heart of the Southland Plains, on the northern shore of Foveaux Strait, it sits just 18 km north of Bluff Harbour. With a population of around 53,000 and an area of 491 km², it’s a vibrant hub in the deep south. 🏙️ As the agricultural and livestock distribution center of the southern coastal region, Invercargill boasts industries like meat processing, flour milling, wool textiles, and timber production. 🏭 Fun fact: Many of its streets are named after Scottish rivers, such as Dee Street and Tay Street. 🏴 European settlers first arrived in 1853, and the city flourished during the 1860s Otago gold rush. 💰 Today, its key industries include agriculture 🐄, fishing 🎣, forestry 🌲, aluminum smelting (home to NZ’s only aluminum plant at Tiwai Point), and tourism 🗺️. Dairy, lamb, and wool are its economic pillars. 🐑 The Southern Institute of Technology’s zero-fee foundation program attracts international students 🎓, while the city serves as the southern terminus of the South Island Main Trunk Railway 🚂. Bonus: Invercargill Airport has the third-longest runway in NZ! ✈️ #Globetrotting #ScenicJourney #Travel #NewZealandAdventure 🌍✨