NZ2009 - Invercargill

The countryside is quite flat as you approach Invercargill. It is a strange place and for the first time in NZ I felt I was in a foreign country. It is mid february and the Christmas decorations are still up (they are very nice!) but even stranger they are lit each night. The original designers of the town thought it would be of major importance. The streets are 3 and 4 lanes in each direction and there are impressive buildings, some of them art deco but then as a town it does not live up to that grandeur. However we had a good meal in Speights Ale House and it was full of people enjoying themselves.
Sightseeing around Invercargill turned out much better than those impressions of the town suggested. Anderson's Park was wonderful. Beautiful lawns and gardens perfectly manicured, but the Queens Gardens were even better. We are very impressed by the public gardens in NZ which are free to go in and must involve a lot of maintenance.
Rivertown was a fine place and The Rocks were fun to clamber around and bird warch. Colac Bay and Orepuki Beach were worth a visit although despite blue skies it was 4 layer day! Oreti Beach was something else. 30km long of fine flat sand and you can drive onto it. 100m of beach between lovely sand dunes and the sea. It featured in the Anthony Hopkins film 'The Fastest Indian'.
Finally to the main tourist spot, The Bluff. A 300m hill 20km south of the town, 360 deg viewing from the top and some great walks along the coast.