Dipton on the Ōreti River

Dipton and its landscape

The Ōreti River is an integral part of Dipton’s geography: the settlement extends across the river. The Taringatura Hills lie west of Dipton; their highest point reaches 666 metres, and the hills are now mostly pastureland. The river, nearby high ground and pastureland shape local orientation. When choosing a holiday home in Dipton, consider whether to focus on the settlement itself and its surroundings, or on a particular experience elsewhere in the wider Southland District.

One local nature experience is the privately owned Castledowns (Dipton) Wetlands. The short trail can be accessed from the road; visitors can also join a working group. As the area is privately owned, please confirm access before visiting. The opportunity to volunteer offers a different way to experience the wetland in addition to the short trail.

In the wider Southland District

The Hump Ridge Track is a three-day loop across subalpine heights and along a rugged coast in southern Fiordland. It opened as New Zealand’s eleventh Great Walk on 25 October 2024. The track includes a short interpretive loop around the historic Port Craig sawmilling site. The route, landscape and loop combine a multi-day nature experience with a specific historic place.

A different change of scenery can be found on the Rakiura Track: it follows an open coastline, passes through the island’s forested interior and runs along the sheltered shores of Paterson Inlet. Oban, the only settlement on Stewart Island/Rakiura, can be reached from Invercargill by a 20-minute flight or from Bluff by a one-hour ferry crossing of Foveaux Strait. As schedules can change, check flight or ferry times before planning.

Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara is another nature option in the Southland District, with an open sanctuary and well-maintained tracks for people of all ages and fitness levels. Following a successful eradication programme, the island was declared rat-free. Its relatively pristine condition makes it important for the protection of threatened species. This island experience therefore differs from the coastal and forest landscapes described above, both in its tracks and in its conservation focus.

Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is on the shores of Lake Te Anau. It is a 20-minute walk or a two-minute drive from the Te Rua-o-te-Moko/Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre. Self-guided visits and activities for children are available on site. The takahē conservation programme is also based here: the resident takahē pairs raise chicks, which are released at around one year old into wild, predator-controlled areas. A visit therefore combines independent exploration with a specific contribution to the species’ survival.

At Lake Manapouri, landscape and environmental history meet. Following a campaign in the 1960s against raising the lake’s water level, the lake was placed under statutory protection. A section of the Kepler Track leads from Rainbow Reach through beech forest to Moturau Hut and Shallow Bay on Lake Manapouri. The Lake2Lake Trail follows Lake Te Anau and the eastern side of the Waiau River to Lake Manapouri. The routes therefore differ in the landscapes and destinations described.

There are also different ways to explore history in the Southland District. Around ten museums tell the story of Southland Province and its people; their collections range from historic machinery to whaling artefacts. The region also includes parks such as Ivon Wilson Park on the edge of Te Anau, along with numerous scenic walking tracks. When choosing a holiday home, it may therefore come down to whether Dipton’s river and hill landscape or a particular nature, walking or cultural theme in the Southland District is the deciding factor.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wyndham, Manapouri, Niagara, The Key, Otautau, Papatotara, Monowai, Lumsden

For the wider travel overview: Southland District.