Stretch your legs and wonder at the harmony of nature on one of Invercargill’s manageable bush trails. Walk through totara forest at Sandy Point Domain, just 7km west of the city. Experience the native bird-life and climb the sand dunes. Look-out points on the many tracks give fantastic views of the New River Estuary, which borders the domain. Take time to reflect our history. This peninsula was home to early Maori and used by whalers.

For a more tangible view of history, take the track at Greenpoint Domain, 2km north of Bluff. It is a ships graveyard. This piece of coast was a past dumping ground for vessels at the end of their lives. Skeletons of steel whalers and beached fishing boats litter the shore.

Breathe deeply and taste the sea air of Bluff. Foveaux Walkway is a walk along rugged coastline below ‘Motupohue’ (The Bluff). A circular track just over 7km in length starts out on the Foveaux Walkway. It continues on from Lookout Point, over Bluff Hill and back to Stirling Point.

For a short 20-30 minute excursion try the Glory Track, one way between Stirling Point and Gunpit Road.

A variety of short bush walks are available at some smaller reserves close to Invercargill.

North meets south at Awarua Wetlands. The wetlands are a stronghold for migratory birds from the Northern Himsphere, water fowl and native birds such as fernbirds and bittern. Many species of wading birds can also be observed at Awarua Bay. Altogether, Awarua Wetlands Scientific Reserve and the adjoining Seaward Moss and Toetoes conservation areas cover 14,000 hectares. This is the largest protected wetlands in southern New Zealand.

Check out the Department of Conservation website for more information on tracks around Invercargill and Southland: www.doc.govt.nz