Invercargill NZ (New Zealand)

Invercargill is a subantarctic cruise port and New Zealand's southernmost-westernmost city and the commercial centre of NZ's Southland region (South Island and Rakiura-Stewart Island). Invercargill is on South Island and approx 18 km (11 mi) north of Bluff (island's southernmost town). the southwestern part of South Island is included in the Fiordland NP.

Invercargill has population around 55,000 (Southland's total population is around 100,000) and is well known for the fun fact that many of its streets are named after UK (mainly in Scotland) rivers. The city is surrounded by some of NZ's most fertile farmlands. Southern Invercargill is on the New River's (Oreti River's) estuary. The climate is temperate oceanic, with temperatures ranging between 5 C (41 F) in July to 14 C (57 F) in January. Raining season is in June through September. Invercargill is NZ's second-windiest city - after Wellington.

From Invercargill Airport, Air New Zealand Ltd (NZ's flag carrier) offers regularly scheduled daily flights connecting to Christchurch and Wellington, and also to Auckland (5 flights weekly).

In 2021, the Christchurch-based cruise company Heritage Expeditions introduced two ex-NZ polar itineraries - "Unseen Fiordland, Stewart Island (Oban) and The Snares - Exploring New Zealand's Remote Backyard" and "Auckland Islands and The Snares - Subantarctic Wonderland". Both voyages were with the chartered cruise ship Professor Khromov (aka Spirit of Enderby).

The 8-day Fiordland-Stewart Island-The Snares itinerary (Queenstown to Invercargill) departed January 30, 2021. Prices ranged from NZD 4000 per person (Main Deck Triple Cabin) to NZD 8450 pp (Heritage Suite). The ship's daily schedule included Queenstown (day 1), Milford Sound (day 2), Fiordland NP (days 3-5), The Snares/North East Island (day 6), Stewart Island/Ulva Island (day 7) and Invercargill (day 8).

The 7-day Auckland Islands-The Snares itinerary (roundtrip from Invercargill) departed on February 6, 2021. Prices ranged between NZD 4500 pp (Main Deck Triple Cabin) to NZD 7550 (Heritage Suite). The voyage featured a full day on Enderby Island. The ship's daily schedule included Invercargill (day 1), The Snares/North East Island (day 2), Auckland Islands (days 3-5), at sea (day 6) and Invercargill (day 7).