Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island Travel Guide
- Overview
- Places to Explore
- Sights
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Entertainment
- Shopping
- Travel Tips
- Features
- Fodor's Choice
- Deals
- Guidebooks
Guidebooks
-
Fodor's New Zealand
Trade Paperback
The province of Otago occupies much of the southeast quadrant of the South Island. During the first three decades of the 1800s, European whaling ships cruised its coast and ventured ashore, yielding a mixed response from the Maori, who had been living here for hundreds of years. In 1848 Dunedin was settled, and all the land from the top of the Otago Peninsula south to the Clutha River and sections farther inland were purchased from the Maori. By the mid-1860s Dunedin was the economic hub of the Otago gold rush. Dunedin's historical wealth endures in such institutions as the University of Otago, the oldest in the country.
Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island Hotels
Dunedin has a full range of accommodations, from modest hostels to luxury hotels, whereas Invercargill has more motels than anything else. Local motels...read more
Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island Restaurants
Dunedin has the area's highest concentration of good restaurants. Seafood is a big player, in part because of Dunedin's coastal location but also because...read more
Things To Do in Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island
Explore the best sights, entertainment, and shopping with our top choices and insider tips.
Travel Deals in Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island
- $1099* -- Australia/NZ Flights w/Fiji Stop From West Coast Air Pacific
- $1298 -- New Zealand in 'Summer' w/Tahiti Stop, $795 Off Air Tahiti Nui & Tourism New Zealand
- $1120* & up -- New Zealand in 'Fall' from West Coast, R/T — $1,120 Air New Zealand
Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island Experiences
-
Bird-Watching: See yellow-eyed penguin or an albatross on the peninsula or a kiwi on Stewart Island. Predator-free Ulva Island is often called... Read more
-
Between the rocky beach and a primitive forest at Lee Bay, a plaque at the park's entrance quotes a Stewart Islander: "I must go over to New... Read more
-
The Southern Scenic Route, 440 km (273 mi) long, follows the coast south of Dunedin, picks up the highway to Balclutha, and swings around the... Read more
-
The laconic "Southern Man" has a special niche in the Kiwi mind—the typical specimen lives in the country, has a trusty dog by his side... Read more
-
Oamaru. Driving south from Timaru, Oamaru is the first stop of interest. Described as the best example of Victorian architecture in use in New... Read more
-
The Nature. As the last natural light fades at the lighthouse, you'll begin to hear the whir of wings and strange cries. These are the muttonbirds... Read more
News & Features
-
Trip Ideas
You've heard of Lake Como (thanks to George's exploits), but halfway between Milan and Venice lies Italy's... Read more
-
Travel Tips
Need we say more?... Read more
-
Trip Ideas
On the tip of Mexico's Baja Peninsula, sun-drenched Los Cabos draws in everyone from honeymooners and... Read more
Free Fodor's Newsletter
Subscribe today for weekly travel inspiration, tips, and special offers.
· Travel Planner
Fodor's Trip Planning Ideas
- Weekend Getaways: Fodor's Recommends the Best Weekend Escapes in the US
- Great American Vacation: Find Your Next U.S. Trip with Fodor's
- 80 Degrees: Fodor's Helps You Find Your Best Beach Vacation Spots
- Go List: Fodor's Top 25 Places to Go in 2013
- Hotel Awards 2012: Fodor's 100 Top Hotels
- Best of Europe: Fodor's Picks the Best Places to Visit in Europe
· Forums Trip Reports
-
We have just returned from two weeks in the land of the long white cloud although we only saw cloud on two days and rain on one!
We spent a week in the Bay of Islands with the highlight being sailing i Read more -
Hi, all -- since I find other people's trip reports so helpful I've decided to post one of mine. Read more
·New Zealand Forum
-
For some time I've been haunting these boards and butting into other people's threads, so i thought that it was high time that I had a go at working out my own itinerary for you all to take pot shots at. Read more




