Heading South: Unlocking Invercargill

During our stay in Queenstown, we kept passing a road sign pointing to "Invercargill"—sparking our curiosity. A quick search revealed it was New Zealand’s southernmost city, so we squeezed in a day trip to check it out! The drive from Queenstown to Invercargill took 3 hours, but the adventure was worth it. Must-See Spots 🗺️✨ 🚘 Bill Richardson Transport World 🎫 40 NZD This is the largest private transport-themed museum in the Southern Hemisphere! The founder, a truck enthusiast turned transport tycoon, turned his passion into this incredible collection. Rows of vintage trucks, Fords, and rare cars 🚛 Antique gas pumps, mini cars, RVs, and even a McDonald’s toy exhibit (including the iconic Filet-O-Fish car—a must for McFans! 🍟🙏) The founder’s daughter expanded the collection with classic clothing, toys, and more—eclectic and fun! Nearby: The Classic Motorcycle Mecca (300+ rare bikes) offers a combo ticket, but we skipped it due to time. 📍 Stirling Point (Bluff) A 30-min drive south from Invercargill takes you to Bluff, home to New Zealand’s "End of the World" signpost (just 4,810 km from Antarctica! ❄️). Oyster Cove 🦪: A(viral) restaurant with a Mandarin-speaking staff. Try the Bluff oysters (March-August only!)—but ours were disappointingly bitter (like swallowing seawater 🌊😖). Pacific oysters available off-season (½ dozen: 40 NZD, full dozen: 75 NZD). 🌊 Oreti Beach A 26 km-long beach where you can drive your car on the hard-packed sand! 🚗💨 Perfect for joyrides, biking, or motorcycles (check tides!). Stunning sunset views over the endless coastline. 🌅 Bonus: Invercargill’s historic water tower and 19th-century architecture are nice for a stroll, but not worth a special trip. 📸 Fujifilm XS-10 #NewZealand #NZTravel #UrbanExplorer #HiddenGems #TravelMemories #RoadTripVibes #FujiFilm #NoFilter