Te Wahi Tākaro o Motupōhue – Bluff Adventure Park
Te Wahi Tākaro o Motupōhue Adventure Park on Bluff Hill offers more than 10km of mountain biking and walking trails across 27 tracks. It caters to a wide range of skill levels. Designed with inclusivity in mind, the park features an accessible walking trail and full amenities at the base of Motupōhue Bluff Hill. A brilliant destination for group outings, team building or active events in the great Southland outdoors.
Donovan Park
Looking for rural vibes in the city? Covering over 79 hectares, Donovan Park is one of Invercargill's most expansive green spaces – a relaxed mix of parkland and working farmland. Both the park and farm areas are available for hire, offering plenty of space for outdoor activities, cross country, equestrian sports, picnics and functions. Two easy walking tracks wind through the park, and the duck pond is a favourite spot for a wander.
The restored Donovan family residence is home to Craftys Restaurant, a great option for dining before or after your event.
Elizabeth Park
A large and well-loved reserve in South Invercargill, Elizabeth Park spans more than 14 hectares of sheltered green space – a great venue for a family day out, dogs included!
From a fantastic adventure playground with a flying fox and slides, to BMX tracks maintained by the Southland BMX Club, there's plenty to keep everyone busy. The park has two spaces available for hire: open grounds suitable for sports events, cross country, picnics and weddings, and a picnic area accommodating up to 60 people.
Elles Road - Town Belt and Dog Park
A well-used reserve in South Invercargill, the Town Belt at Elles Road is a popular spot for rugby, rugby league, walking and jogging, with large established trees providing plenty of shade.
The Elles Road Dog Park is a fully fenced, off-lead dog exercise area – perfect for dog training or a canine birthday celebration. The open walkway area from Tay Street to the Otepuni suits larger events, having previously hosted Christmas in the Park and school athletics, with capacity for up to 10,000 people.
Otepuni Gardens
One of Invercargill's oldest parks, Otepuni Gardens was set aside as a public reserve when John Turnbull Thomson laid out the town in 1856. Spanning 9.4 hectares near the CBD, it's a quiet and characterful retreat from the city streets, with gardens, play equipment and a walkway that winds along the Otepuni Creek.
Otepuni Gardens has several areas available for hire, including open green spaces and gardens perfect for picnics and workshops. The Band Rotund is a popular choice for weddings, with seating, power and a beautiful sense of seclusion. Please note a liquor ban is in place at Otepuni Gardens.
Russell Square
A favourite in South Invercargill and part of the city’s Town Belt, Russell Square is home to one of the area's main playgrounds. First developed in 1922 and lovingly upgraded over the decades by local citizens and service clubs, it's a well-loved green space.
Fully fenced, wheelchair accessible and packed with equipment for kids of all ages – from a flying fox and spacenet climber to swings, slides and a basketball hoop – it's a great spot for a birthday celebration or family picnic. With a BBQ, picnic tables, shelter, drinking water and a toilet on site, it’s ready to help you host your next event.
Sandy Point Domain
Just a ten-minute drive from Invercargill, Sandy Point Domain is a natural playground spanning more than 2,000 hectares of beach, river, estuary and native forest. Bounded by the Oreti River and the Foveaux Strait, it's a favourite outdoor destination featuring 13.5km of walking tracks, 16km of purpose-built grade 3 mountain bike trails, and two playgrounds.
Sandy Point is also home to many recreational clubs and is a popular outdoor classroom for schools and community groups.
Several spaces are available for hire, including picnic areas, environmental green spaces and the Oreti Sands Building – a former golf clubhouse with a full kitchen, perfect for birthdays, weddings and functions.
Seaward Bush
Located 9km from central Invercargill, Seaward Bush Reserve is a beautiful remnant of regenerating native kāmahi forest – one of the few areas of significant indigenous vegetation remaining in the city. Graceful tree ferns, native shrubs and a network of walking tracks make it a peaceful spot for a walk, a picnic or an outdoor classroom experience.
A sheltered picnic area is available for hire - an ideal spot for picnics, weddings, workshops and environmental activities.
Thomsons Bush
Just 2.5km from central Invercargill, Thomsons Bush is one of the few remaining remnants of the kahikatea-dominated swamp forest that once characterised central southern Southland. A haven for native bush birds and insects, it's a living classroom, and one of Invercargill's popular spots for nature study and environmental education. A 3.5km network of well-graded walking tracks winds through the bush, making it perfect to explore on foot.
The reserve is available for hire and well suited to picnics, birthday celebrations, workshops, cross country, orienteering and environmental activities.
Turnbull Thomson Park
One of Invercargill's key sports hubs, Turnbull Thomson Park is a large reserve spread across four sections on either side of the Otepuni Creek. Home to a range of clubs and organisations, it's a well-used and well-loved part of the city's sporting life.
The park features an impressive range of playing fields – rugby, league, soccer, cricket, hockey, touch and golf practice – as well as a playground and the Otepuni Walkway, which runs the length of the reserve along the top of the raised flood banks. With several sports fields available for hire, it's ideal for hosting your next sporting event, team practice or tournament.
