We’ve explored the town slogans of the North Island, so it’s only fair we don’t forget the stunning South. Read on to learn about the city, settlement, and town slogans of New Zealand’s southern places and what makes them unique.

Contents

1. Marlborough, Nelson/Tasman
2. Canterbury
3. The West Coast
4. Otago
5. Southland

1. Marlborough, Nelson/Tasman

Picton: Heart of the Sounds
Known for: beaches, boating, Inter-islander ferry. See 11 awesome activities to do in Picton

Tākaka & Golden Bay: Come, Stay, Play in Golden Bay
Other: Heart of the Parks
Known for: arts & crafts, hippies, caves, sandy coasts, wildlife, waterfalls, Anatoki Salmon Fishing, Farewell Spit
– A visit to colourful Tākaka is probably the closest thing you can get to revisiting the 1960s-70s

Nelson (Whakatū): Our Ordinary is Other People’s Extraordinary
Other: Sunny Nelson
Known for: sunshine, beaches, nature walks, hiking in Abel Tasman National Park, arts & craftspeople

Havelock: Green Lipped Mussel Capital of the World
Known for: green lipped mussels, mussel cruises, Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere
– Steamed, fried, seared, or stewed; in Havelock, mussels are the star of the menu

Blenheim (Waiharakeke): New Zealand’s Sunniest Place
Known for: Wineries, endless vineyards, seasonal workers, cellar doors, sunshine
– In the old days, Blenheim was also known as Beavertown due to frequent floods

2. Canterbury

Kaikōura: Te Tūtakitanga (The meeting Place)
Other: Crayfish capital; Whale-watching capital; Marine life capital of NZ
Known for: Seals, dolphins, whale-watching, scenic walks, seafood. See: Top free activities in Kaikōura)


Amberley (Kōwai): Take Your Time
Known for: flat farmland, memorial to WWII hero Charles Upham, Amberly beach for surfing & fishing
– It’s a pleasant, albeit small rural town, so visitors often struggle to meet the demands of the slogan

Christchurch (Ōtautahi): The Garden City
Other: The Most English Town Outside England
Known for: International Antarctic Centre, Canterbury Museum, galleries, earthquakes, the Botanic Gardens, a lack of hills

Ashburton (Hakatere): Whatever it Takes; Heart of the Mainland
Other: Where Life Gets Better; Ash-Vegas
Known for: shops for farm things (tractors, feed, mulch etc.), an Aviation Museum
– I’ve never actually stopped in good-old Ash-Vegas, but I have driven through it several times… which turns out to be one of the most popular things to do

Timaru: Affordable, Accessible, Just Plain Awesome
Other: Timaz Hard
Known for: Caroline Bay, Timaru Botanic Gardens

Waimate: Wallaby Country
Known for: countryside, the Strawberry Fare, craft beer, and wallabies

3. West Coast: Untamed Natural Wilderness

Greymouth (Mawhera): Heart of the West Coast
Known for: Pounamu, gold mining, lots of rain, fishing, adventure activities

Hokitika: Jade Town
Known for: a beach with lots of driftwood, annual Wildfoods Festival, pounamu, gold, Hokitika Gorge (pictured)

Ross: Gold Town
Known for: close to natural attractions and activities (glaciers, scenic hikes and walks), goldrush history

Haast (Tioripatea): On the Edge of the Wilderness
Known for: hunting, fishing, tramping, nature, Haast Pass & River, coastal walks

Westport (Kawatiri): Real Kiwi Experience
Known for: wildlife, the Old Ghost Road, West Coast Brewery
– If you want the ‘real’ Kiwi experience of wondering around derelict houses and providing friendly locals with ‘news from the outside world’, I guess

Reefton: Town of Light
Known for: Victoria Forest Park, bushland, heritage buildings, whiskey distillery, antiques
– Reefton was the first place to get streetlights in the Southern Hemisphere, hence the town slogan

4. Otago

Tekapo (Takapō): Where Earth Meets Sky
Known for: The Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo, trout fishing, nature, star gazing at the Tekapo Thermal Springs

Oamaru: Whitestone City
Other: Steampunk Capital of NZ
Known for: penguin colony, impressive Victorian architecture, Steampunk HQ, craftspeople, Victorian Fete in the historical precinct

Dunedin (Ōtepoti): A Good Plan D
Other: Edinburgh of the South; Dunners/Dunnerz
Known for: Grand architecture, Scottish heritage, Otago University students & flats, Larnach Castle, wildlife, the steepest street in the world, Dunedin Railway Station

Mosgiel: Pearl of the Plain
Known for: farms, pensioners, McArthurs Berry Farm, Wal’s Plant Land
– Often a petrol/loo stop if you get caught out on the long drive to Dunedin airport

Otago Lakes District

Queenstown (Tāhuna): Adventure Capital of the World
Known for: adventure activities (paragliding, scenic flights, sky-diving, bungee jumping, jet boats etc.), giftshops, Lake Wakatipu, ski fields, tourists

Wanaka: The Lifestyle Reserve
Known for: Lake Wanaka, the Wanaka tree, skiing, hiking, Wanaka Lavender Farm, Puzzling World, Warbirds on Wheels, hiking trails

Arrowtown: Where History Meets Nature
Known for: goldrush history, attractive historic buildings, giftshops, miners’ cottages, the Lakes District Museum, Arrow River

Central Otago

Cromwell (Tīrau): Stonefruit Capital of New Zealand
Known for: the ‘big fruit’ sculpture (pictured), orchards, heritage precinct, Sunday market, Lake Dunstan

Alexandra: LX Heart of Central; Explore Discover Enjoy; Take Your Time
Known for: goldrush history, Clutha River, the Roxburgh and Otago Rail Trails, museum, vineyards

Oturehua: Land Where the Sun Stands Still
Known for: Hayes engineering works & homestead, Gilchrist’s General Store, curling, Otago Rail Trail

Naseby: 2000ft Above Worry Level
Known for: Curling, the ice luge, historic buildings, gold mining history

Middlemarch (~Patearoa): Middlemarch Rocks!
Known for: start/end of the Otago Rail Trail, the Rock and Pillar Range, Sutton Salt Lake, check out the Best Free Activities around Middlemarch
-Seriously, you should check out the rocks. They’re amazing!

5. Southland

Gore (Maruawai): The Country Music Capital
Other: The World Capital of Brown Trout Fishing
Known for: the Hokonui Moonshine Museum, Country music, trout fishing

Riverton (Aparima): Riviera of the South
Known for: Te Hikoi Museum, scenic reserves, walking trails

Te Anau: Gateway to FiordlandKnown for: Lake Te Anau, Kepler Track, glowworm caves, hiking, cruises, scenic flights

The Catlins: Let the Catlins Captivate You
Known for: bushwalks, waterfalls, wildlife, sandflies, petrified forest at Curio Bay, Cathedral Caves, sightseeing, Nugget Point, see the 8 Top Attractions in the Catlins

Invercargill (Waihōpai): Dream Big
Other: City of water & light
Known for: Queens Park, historical buildings, Bill Richardson Transport World, home of Burt Munro
– A slogan said by all those who dream of escaping Invercargill…

Bluff (Motupōhue): Pearl of the South
Other: Gateway to Stewart Island
Known for: The Bluff Oyster Festival whose own motto is ‘Unsophisticated and Proud of it,’ the Stewart Island Ferry, Stirling Point, a maritime museum

Don’t miss out on these…

>> The slogans of the North Island, NZ

More resources:

• Helpful Māori Words to learn when Travelling Aotearoa
• 5 Interesting facts you might not know about Stewart Island/Rakiura
• Cycling Otago Rail Trail: Packing & handy tips