Invercargill's 81-Hectare Green Heart
Queens Park lies just north of the Invercargill city centre, bounded by Queens Drive, Kelvin Street, Gala Street, and Herbert Street. At 81 hectares, it is one of the largest and most richly planted urban parks in New Zealand, and it has been part of the city since its founding. About one-third of the park’s main grounds, mostly towards the south end, contains themed formal gardens, mature specimen trees, an animal park, an aviary, a winter garden, a playground, and a cafe. The balance of the park includes an 18-hole golf course, sports grounds, and walking and fitness trails. It was part of surveyor John Turnbull Thomson's 1857 town plan, when the area was covered in native podocarp swamp forest. The name Taurakitewaru reflects the significance of that forest to Ngāi Tahu before European settlement.
Access to the Park
Queens Park can be accessed from Gala Street through the striking Feldwick Gates at the south end or from Queens Drive in the east. The Burt Monroe statue is near the Gala Street entrance, along with an attractive fountain display. From this entrance, a promenade lined with mature trees runs up the middle of the park to the bandstand, with botanical collections and other features signposted to either side. If you walk along Gala Road to the west, you will also find the substantial Cenotaph war memorial, in the block just beyond the southwest corner of the park.
Explore the west side first, including the rose garden, then head to the east side for most of the themed gardens, animals and birds, the playground, and the cafe. Allow a couple of hours to cover the various trails that meander around the gardens.
Gardens and Botanical Collections
The botanical heart of Queens Park is its series of themed garden areas, which include a rose garden holding one of New Zealand's most significant heritage rose collections, a rhododendron dell, an azalea garden, a Japanese garden reflecting the city's sister-city relationship with Kumagaya in Japan, a Chinese garden acknowledging Suqian City in Jiangsu, a rock and herb garden, and a sensory garden. The indoor winter garden (currently under repair) houses tropical and flowering plants year-round, with an adjoining cactus house. Native plantings throughout the park use eco-sourced species, including megaherbs from the sub-Antarctic islands that would otherwise be unknown to most New Zealand visitors.
An unusual feature is a large stumpery that sits near the aviary. The weird, spiky forms made from tree stumps and branches are unusual and quite delightful. Take care not to fall on one of the forms! You can also spot large wood-based sculptures through the large exotic trees on the southwest side.
Wildlife: Aviary, Animal Reserve, and the Tuatara
The aviary houses native birds seldom seen in captivity, including kea, kākā, weka, and Campbell Island teal, alongside a walk-through enclosure where visitors can watch native birds fly freely. The animal reserve contains wallabies, alpacas, ostriches, rabbits, guinea pigs, and various birds.
In 2024, the tuatara formerly housed at the Southland Museum were moved to a new purpose-built habitat at the animal reserve, Te Moutere - Tuatara Island. Tuatara, described as living dinosaurs, have a lineage stretching back some 225 million years and can live for more than a century. Henry, the oldest known living tuatara, is among the residents. Queens Park is one of the most accessible ways to experience tuatara in New Zealand. Other options include Zealandia and Otarahonga Kiwi House.
A playground with water features and a wheel-in accessible merry-go-round is positioned near the aviary. Next to the playground is the cafe.
The Southland Museum
The distinctive pyramid-shaped Southland Museum at the southwest corner of the park is being rebuilt. Te Unua Museum of Southland is expected to reopen by early 2027.
How to Get There
It is a short walk or drive north from the city centre to the Gala Street entrance, with some off-road parking near the entrance and on the road. The Queens Drive entrance includes car access to a car park roughly in the middle of the park.
Nearby places to visit include Bill Richardson Transport World, Thomsons Bush and Anderson Park. You can also do the greenbelt walk, starting from the park and walking to the central city to explore the outdoor murals and artworks.
