Essentials
- City
- Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand
- Population
- 57,000
- Internet Speed
- 950 Mbps (Fiber available widely via Chorus)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 NZD ≈ 0.61 USD. 1 USD ≈ 1.63 NZD
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink, high quality
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type I (AS/NZS 3112)
- SIM Card
- Spark, One NZ, Skinny (50GB for approx. $60 NZD)
- Banking for Expats
- ANZ, ASB, BNZ; Wise and Revolut widely accepted
- Accommodation
- TradeMe Property, RealEstate.co.nz, Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, EFTPOS and contactless payments are standard
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, Bookabach
- Budget Accommodation
- Tuatara Lodge (approx. $40 NZD/night for dorms)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- City Center (near Queens Park)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Gladstone or Windsor (quiet, suburban, high fiber connectivity)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- COIN South (100 Esk Street) - approx. $35 NZD/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Industry Cafe (330 Dee Street) - high-speed WiFi, quiet corners
- Networking Events
- Southland Business Chamber events at Ascot Park
- Social Events for Expats
- Invercargill Community Facebook Group, Meetup Southland
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Blue Star Taxis, Uber (limited availability)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Wensley's Cycles (approx. $50 NZD/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Oreti Beach (10 mins from city center)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air New Zealand Link
- Top International Airline
- Air New Zealand, Qantas (via Christchurch/Auckland)
- Highway Access
- State Highway 1 and State Highway 6
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Invercargill Bus Smart Terminal (Leven Street)
- Public Transport Passes
- BusSmart Card (fares approx. $2.00 NZD per zone)
- Regional Travel
- InterCity Bus, Stewart Island Ferry (from Bluff)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Southland Hospital (Kew Road)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Room (64 Ettrick Street)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- CityFitness (Dee Street) - approx. $15 NZD/week
- Laundry Services
- Self Service Laundromat (150 Spey Street)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Delivereasy, DoorDash
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Southland Cheese Rolls ($5-8 NZD at cafes)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Auction House (20 Don Street)
- Best Dessert Spots
- The Batch Cafe (173 Spey Street)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pak'nSave (215 Tay Street)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Mighty Ape, TradeMe, Amazon AU
- Grocery Delivery
- Countdown, New World Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Don Street (The繁, Speight's Ale House)
- Local Brewery
- 40000BC / Invercargill Brewery (72 Leet Street)
- Wine Bars
- The Kelvin Hotel Wine Bar
- Street Food Stalls
- Southern Farmers Market (Sundays at Railway Station)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bombay Palace (Indian), Thai Castle
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Bill Richardson Transport World, Queens Park
- Museums & Art Venues
- He Waka Tuia Art + Museum
- Historical Sites
- Water Tower (Doon Street), Old Post Office
- Religious Sites
- St. Mary's Basilica (Tyne Street)
- Annual Events
- Burt Munro Challenge (Motorcycle Rally, February)
- Cultural Districts
- Invercargill Central Shopping District
- Theater Venues
- Civic Theatre (88 Tay Street)
- Local Markets
- Southern Farmers Market (Kew Road)
- Music Scene
- Southland Musicians Club (Preston Street)
- Street Art
- City Center alleys near Esk Street
- Cooking Classes
- SIT (Southern Institute of Technology) Short Courses
- Art Galleries
- City Gallery (80 Tay Street)
- Historic Buildings
- The Grand Hotel 건물 (Dee Street)
- Local Heritage
- Bluff Oysters, Titi (Muttonbird) heritage
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Waituna Lagoon, Omaui Reserve
- National Parks Nearby
- Fiordland National Park (2.5 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Estuary Walkway, Queens Park Loop
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Bluff Hill Lookout (Motupōhue)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Bushy Point Reserve
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Oreti Beach (check local fire permits/bans)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- NZ Post, CourierPost
- Tech Repair Services
- Fone-X (Invercargill Central)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Southland Table Tennis Association (Lindisfarne)
- Language Classes
- English Language Partners (Southland)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Invercargill Public Library (50 Dee Street)
- Community Centers
- Murihiku Marae
- Gaming Lounges
- Game Over (120 Bill Richardson Drive)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- The Ascot Sports Bar (Pokie machines)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,200 NZD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $168,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,400 NZD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $136,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,000 NZD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $240,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,200 NZD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $192,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $3,800 NZD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $304,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,900 NZD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $232,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 28%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 33% (Resident Withholding Tax)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 39% (over $180,000 NZD)
- VAT
- 15% (GST)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes
- Property Tax
- Yes, Council Rates (approx. $2,500-$3,500/year)
- Property Transaction Tax
- No (Stamp duty is not applicable in NZ)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 4-year tax exemption on foreign income for new residents