Travel Diary | Invercargill - New Zealand's Southernmost City ❄️✈️

My first winter trip to Invercargill in July! Temperatures ranged from 2-8°C, with mostly cloudy, rainy, and windy weather—thermal leggings and a down jacket were a must! 🧥❄️ Luckily, we had one and a half days of glorious sunshine during our stay. ☀️ Here are my top recommendations for this charming southern city: 📍 Must-Visit Spots Bluff 🦪 Must-try: A dozen fresh Bluff oysters! This is where the famous annual Bluff Oyster Festival takes place. 🍴 Cheap & tasty takeaway: The Galley Takeaways. 🚶♂️ Walk the trails near the iconic Bluff signpost. Check tides for black abalone (pāua) hunting! Classic Car Museum 🚗💨 (491 Tay St, Hawthorndale) A nostalgic paradise—every car lover’s dream! Riverton 🌊☕ (30 mins from downtown) A quaint seaside town. Perfect for a coffee with ocean views (see my pic! 📸). Queens Park 🌳🦚 (City center) A massive public garden with botanical displays, a mini zoo, and a national exhibition. Fun fact: Invercargill is sister cities with Suqian, Jiangsu, China! Kings Ocean Fresh Fish 🐟🍟 (Downtown) Must-eat: Blue Cod Fish & Chips—SO GOOD! Turkish Kebabs 🌯 (Downtown) Must-try: Lamb taco, chicken taco, or a mixed veggie-meat wrap. Always packed at lunch & dinner—worth the wait! Starbucks ☕📸 (World’s southernmost Starbucks!) A fun photo op—don’t miss it! Reading Cinema 🎬🍿 (Downtown) Perfect for a cozy movie night when the weather’s bad. Final Thoughts For a small town, Invercargill packs a punch! 🥊 The locals are super friendly, and the vibe is cozy and welcoming. Highly recommend adding it to your NZ itinerary! #NZTravel #Invercargill #SouthIsland #HiddenGems #TravelDiary ✨🇳🇿