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Invercargill, New Zealand

Gerrard's Private Railway Hotel, Invercargill, New ZealandGerrard's Private Railway Hotel, Invercargill, New Zealand
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gerrard%27s_Private_Railway_Hotel.jpg
Author: Karora
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Invercargill (Maori: Waihōpai) is the city on the southernmost part of New Zealand. It is also one of the southernmost cities in the world. Invercargill is the main city and commercial center of the Southland Region. The city is on the Southland Plains, 18 km from Bluff, the southernmost town in New Zealand.

Invercargill is surrounded by great expanse of agricultural land as well as protected forestland, such as the Fiordland National Park. Invercargill covers 491 sq km (189.6 sq mi) and has a population of 52,000 people.

Invercargill Water TowerInvercargill Water Tower
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Invercargill_water_tower.jpg
Author: stanw
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Earliest European settlement in Invercargill was established in the 1850s. The early settlers were mostly sealers, whalers and missionaries from the Free Church, a spin-off from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. In the 1860s, gold was discovered, bringing in more settlers to the area.

Invercargill had a law prohibiting the sale of alcohol which was implemented from 1905 until 1945, when returning servicemen out-voted the law. Even today, alcohol is not sold in supermarkets of Invercargill.

Traditionally based on agriculture, the economy of Invercargill in the past decade has increasingly emphasized tourism. The location of Invercargill on the Southern Scenic Route puts it on the tourist map, linking it with Queenstown, Stewart Island, Dunedin, Te Anau and Fiordland.

Visiting Invercargill

There are bus services to Invercargill from Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown. There are also flights to Invercargill from Christchurch and Wellington.

Trooper's Memorial, InvercargillTrooper's Memorial, Invercargill
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dee_and_Tay_roundabout.JPG
Author: Mr Bungle
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Sights & Attractions to visit in Invercargill

  1. Anderson Park and Art Gallery
    Public garden with art gallery occupying a Georgian-style house. The gallery displays fine examples of local art.

  2. Invercargill Water Tower
    The landmark red-brick tower standing at 42 m (138 ft) tall was built in 1889, and is recognized today for its Neo-Romanesque design.

  3. Potter's Lodge
    Built in 1866, this is the oldest house in Invercargill that is still standing.

  4. Queen's Park
    Covering 0.8 sq km, this is the biggest botanical reserve in Invercargill. It features formal gardens, rose garden and wildlife park.

  5. Southland Museum and Art Gallery
    Museum and gallery for the Southland region near Queen's Park, it celebrates the history and nature of the region.

  6. St John's Anglican Church
    Church of the Anglicans in Invercargill. It features stained glass windows and barreled-vaulted ceiling.

  7. St Paul's Presbyterian Church
    One of the main churches in Invercargill. It has a square bell tower with bells cast in Italy.

  8. Troopers' Memorial
    Memorial at the intersection of Dee Street and Tay Street, at the heart of Invercargill.

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About this website



Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.
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