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Environmental reserves

A gravel road rises and dips into the distance, surrounded by trees.

Environmental Reserves are made up predominantly of natural areas and contain remnants of forest, tussock or grassland, wetlands or sand dunes. They have significant scenic, historic or environmental values that set them apart from other reserves.

Read the Environmental Reserves Omnibus Management Plan 2021.

A view from a high hill of a peninsula with a factory chimney surrounded by scrub and bush, with native bush in the foreground.
Bluff Hill - Motupōhue

The Bluff Hill - Motupōhue area provides visitors with spectacular views over Foveaux Strait and the Southland Plains, a well-established track network, mountain bike track, car park and interpretation panels.

Original native forest, wind-battered coast and scrub-covered hillsides are some of the delights of Bluff Hill - Motupōhue.

Two people ride mountain bikes up a gravel path leading into bushes.
Te Wahi Tākaro o Motupōhue

Te Wahi Tākaro o Motupōhue Adventure Park features over 10km of mountain biking and walking trails around Bluff Hill.

Find out more about Te Wahi Tākaro o Motupōhue Adventure Park.

A wooden walkway curves away into the distance over water and golden rushes and grasses, with reflections from a sunset.

Distance: 4715m

Duration: 80minutes return

Walk or cycle the 4.7km loop track around Pleasure Bay lagoon and discover an area rich in ecology and history. A shorter walk to an elevated viewpoint will provide views over the estuary and lagoon.

Walk across the Roger Sutton Boardwalk that winds through the oioi (jointed rush) of Pleasure Bay Lagoon. Along the way take a look at the remains of the historic railway trestle bridge from the lagoon beach lookout. Visit the historic Stead Street Wharf with its replica Lady Barkly steam train and replica fishing cutter.

Access: Access and car parking is off Stead Street Wharf and Bond Street.

Dogs: Dogs must be on a lead on the Estuary Walkway.

A green lawn park area is surrounded by bushes and trees with a road in the foreground.

Grant Road Reserve is located at 123 Grant Road, Otatara.

This recreation reserve is largely forested, with an open grassed area along the road frontage for picnicking and recreational activities.

Pedestrian access to the reserve is off Grant Road, with roadside parking available.

An old ship sits grounded on a sandy beach with grassy plants in the foreground and the ocean in the background.

Greenpoint Recreation Reserve is located approximately 27km south of Invercargill, at Greenpoint near Bluff.

Parts of the reserve are covered in regenerating native vegetation, with vistas of the coast and Bluff Harbour.

Immediately south of the reserve is Shipwreck Bay, notable for the wrecks of scuttled ships that remain visible at low tide.

Access: The reserve can be accessed from State Highway 1.

Joeys Island is a small, narrow island on a flat gravel bar within an estuarine bay containing unique plant communities and fauna.

Joeys Island is situated on the northeast arm of the Bluff Harbour between Tiwai Point and the mainland, in Awarua Bay. The island is low lying and becomes partly submerged at high tide. Pedestrian access to the island is possible at low tide from the mainland, or alternatively visitors can access the island by boat.

John Street Reserve is located in Otatara, approximately 6km from Invercargill.

There is a playground and an open grassed area.

The reserve is bordered on all sides by private properties, many having native bush immediately adjoining the reserve. There is an area of native forest managed by the Department of Conservation nearby.

Access: Pedestrian access is off John Street, with on-street parking available.

A swing in a grassy park.

Matua Road Reserve is located at 37 Matua Road, Otatara.

The reserve is made up of two blocks of bush to the north and south, with a grassy strip separating them. The open grassed area provides informal recreation activities and includes a swing.

Access: Pedestrian access is off Matua Road, via a mown access strip. On-street parking is available.

Metcalf Bush Reserve is located approximately nine kilometres from the centre of Invercargill.

This reserve is valuable as one of the few remaining natural bush areas in close proximity to Invercargill's urban environment. Alongside the adjacent Seaward Bush, Metcalf Bush is a valuable protected habitat for native plants, birds and invertebrates.

Metcalf Bush is surrounded by private property. There is no formed public access into the reserve.

Metcalf Bush has a Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Covenant registered on the title for the purposes of protecting the natural and open space values and the flora and fauna.

A view of the beach and ocean, with scrubby native bush in the foreground and some small houses among the trees.

Omaui Reserve has been of historical significance to the Omaui area ever since it became the first gateway to Invercargill. Omaui township was originally occupied as a settlement by Māori and later by Europeans as a whaling base, pilot station and health camp.

It complements the adjacent Department of Conservation Omaui Scenic Reserve, which is considered the largest tract of bush in Invercargill City.

Access: Follow State Highway 1 south towards Bluff. Access to the reserve is off Mokomoko Rad, via Omaui Road, past the Omaui Settlement.

Facilities:

  • Car park
  • Toilet
  • Sheltered picnic area

Walking track:

Distance: 1500m
Duration: 30min return

The loop track through regenerating coastal bush takes you past an elevated lookout platform. Enjoy the panoramic views over the Invercargill Estuary and Sandy Point towards the Takitimu Range on the horizon.

Dogs: Dogs must be kept on a lead.

This reserve contains a mosaic of forest communities, from mānuka shrubland to mature mixed podocarp forest. Listen for the song of tūī and pīwakawaka amongst the canopy of tōtara, mataī, lemonwood, pōkākā and occasional rimu.

Facilities:

  • Picnic table
  • Shelter
  • Fully accessible toilet at Dunns Road carpark
  • Toilet at picnic area
  • Dog waste bin

Walking track:

Duration: 45 minutes return

Distance: 2284m

The loop track through podocarp forest starts and finishes at the picnic shelter and car park off Dunns Road. It is an undulating track over a mixture of soil and boardwalk.

Dogs: Dogs must be on a lead.

Parnell Sanctuary Reserve is located at 38 Ariki Avenue, Otatara.

There is no formed public access into Parnell Sanctuary. Legal access can be gained from both the Ariki Avenue street frontage and along the access strip that leads from the eastern bank of the Oreti River. Vehicle parking is along the Ariki Avenue roadside.

Parnell Sanctuary Reserve provides significant amenity value to the Otatara community as an important forest remnant.

This Reserve provides a valuable area of native bush remnant allowing a protected habitat for native plants, birds and invertebrates.

A small bridge leads over an area with tussocks, with trees in the background.

Paterson Reserve is located at 34 Spence Avenue, Otatara.

The reserve provides natural surroundings and an open space for public use, enjoyment and recreation at any time.

A walking trail links through to Ruru Ave, via Bowman’s Bush. Once crossing the bridge and entering Bowman’s Bush the track becomes a loop.

Access: Pedestrian access to the Reserve is from Spence Avenue and Ruru Avenue via Bowman’s Bush. Vehicle access ends at the Spence Avenue or Ruru Avenue roadsides.

A fenced off area containing red tussock plants, surrounded by farmland.

Red Tussock Reserve is located on the eastern edge of Invercargill on Rockdale Road. It is south of the Otepuni Creek and the Southland Crematorium.

As this remnant of red tussock (Chionochloa rubra) is the only one of its kind in Invercargill, Red Tussock Reserve offers the community an important botanical reserve.

There is currently no formed public access into Red Tussock Reserve. Unformed pedestrian access can be gained through a gate off Rockdale Road.

A sign reads Taiepa Dune Reserve and shows a mown grassy area with fences and shrubs.

Taiepa Dune Reserve is located at 83 Taiepa Road, Otatara.

A walking track links Grant Road, Raeburn Avenue and Taiepa Road. The undulating track passes through a remnant of coastal and sand dune forest at the south of the Reserve and grassy clearings in the sand dune landforms at the north of the Reserve.

The south portion of the Reserve is predominately forest remnant, and visitors can walk through this section along the formed walkway.

The north portion of the Reserve is predominately grassed area which becomes an open space for public use, enjoyment and recreation at any time.

Facilities:

  • Playground
  • Swing seat
  • Park bench
  • Picnic table

Access: Public access can be gained off Raeburn Avenue, Grant Road and Taiepa Road. Vehicles can be parked on the roadside of these three roads.

Tikore Island is located within Bluff Harbour to the north-east of Greenpoint Reserve, around 500 metres offshore.

Rabbit Island is located to the north-east of Tikore Island. Access can only be gained by boat.

Highly visible from the State Highway, this island is a significant landmark in Bluff Harbour. The island is appreciated for its natural, historical and scenic value.

A playground surrounded by large trees.

Thomsons Bush is one of the few remnants of the kahikatea-dominated swamp forest that was characteristic of central southern Southland.

It is an important recreational resource, outdoor classroom, and valued habitat for native bush birds and insects.

Find out more

An open grassy area with a forest in the background.

Seaward Bush Reserve is a relatively large remnant of regenerating native kāmahi forest. It is recognised as an area of significant indigenous vegetation in Invercargill City.

Find out more

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