Discover Gore District
Accommodation in Gore District
The Hokonui Hills are among the key landscape features of Gore District. The area also has forest and bush landscapes, trails for active days, museums and art. You can shape your trip around whether you prefer spending time outdoors, learning about the region’s history, or combining both.
Experience the forest and landscapes
Dolamore Park covers 95 hectares of native podocarp forest. Walking and cycling trails wind through regenerating native bush. If you want to spend time outdoors, this offers a practical way to include nature and exercise in your stay. Croydon Bush gives a sense of the forest, grassland and bush communities that were once characteristic of the Southland landscape. The two places offer different experiences: Dolamore Park focuses on trails through regenerating bush, while Croydon Bush illustrates the landscape communities that were once typical.
The Waikaka Way Walkway offers another distinct trail experience: it follows the Waikaka River and leads to Toronto Street. This route is a useful point of reference when planning your day. The Hokonui Water Race Trail, by contrast, is a 6 km mountain bike track. If cycling is part of your travel plans, you can consider this trail alongside the walking and cycling trails at Dolamore Park.
History, art and regional culture
At the Mataura Museum, local history comes to life in a distinctive building and through specific exhibits. The museum is housed in a cottage dating from the 1880s, known locally as Clematis Cottage. It tells the story of the former Mataura Paper Mill and the Alliance Group meatworks. The collection includes local photographs dating from the 1870s onwards, as well as an extensive archive of local history. If you are interested in Mataura’s development, you can explore both individual historic industries and its photographic and archival collections.
The Eastern Southland Gallery adds to the cultural offering with a John Money Collection and a permanent exhibition of Ralph Hotere’s work. Tussock Country is New Zealand’s largest country music festival. Hokonui Moonshine is now a major tourist attraction based on the district’s former illegal whisky industry. These offer different ways to explore culture and history: art collections, country music and the legacy of a former local industry. If you are looking for cultural discoveries on your trip, you can make these subjects part of your plans.
Trails, water and outdoor activities
In Mataura, Tulloch Park offers several ways to enjoy an active stay. The park has the largest splash pad area on the South Island and a 70-metre Grade 2 pump track. It has two entrances: one directly off State Highway 1 and one off Glendhu Road. This clearly identifies both the park and its two access points, without requiring you to use a particular entrance for directions.
The Mataura River is internationally renowned for brown trout fishing and has almost 150 kilometres of easily accessible water. Guided fishing trips on the Mataura River and nearby streams are available around Gore. For anglers, this is a reason in itself to visit; those with other interests can instead focus on the museums, art or trails. The range of options gives you flexibility to choose a holiday rental based on the kinds of outings that matter most to your trip.
Places in Gore District
To explore Gore District further, you can also visit the town pages for Gore and Mataura. This lets you connect your search for a suitable holiday rental with the places whose cultural and natural attractions you would like to discover.
For the wider travel overview: Southland.
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