Gore District: Forest, Trails and Cultural Heritage

The Hokonui Hills are a distinctive landscape feature of the Gore District. If you want a trip that combines nature, activity and local history, there are several specific themes to explore: native forest, walking and cycling trails, the Mataura River, museums and art. You can tailor your stay to your interests in scenery, activities or culture.

Scenery and Trails

Dolamore Park covers 95 hectares of native podocarp forest. Walking and cycling trails wind through regenerating native bush. If you are interested in the region’s vegetation, Croydon Bush offers another special perspective: the area gives an impression of the forest, grassland and bush communities that once characterised the Southland landscape.

For mountain biking, the Hokonui Water Race Trail is a specific option: the route is 6 kilometres long. The Waikaka Way Walkway offers a different way to explore the area. It starts at Hamilton Park, follows the Waikaka River and leads to Toronto Street. The two trails differ in their stated uses and routes, offering different ways to include physical activity in your trip.

The Mataura River is internationally known for brown trout fishing and has almost 150 kilometres of easily accessible waters. Guided fishing trips are also available around Gore. The river is therefore an important point of interest for visitors who enjoy fishing.

Activities in Mataura

Tulloch Park in Mataura combines water play features with a pump track. The park has the South Island’s largest splash pad area; the water play features may operate seasonally. The 70-metre-long pump track has a difficulty rating of 2. For access, there are two entrances: one directly off State Highway 1 and one off Glendhu Road.

Museums, Art and Regional History

The Mataura Museum is housed in a cottage dating from the 1880s, known locally as Clematis Cottage. Its collection includes local photographs dating from the 1870s onwards, as well as an extensive archive of local history. The museum also features the former Mataura Paper Mill and the former Alliance Group meat processing plant. The building, photographs, archive and industrial history offer different ways to explore the town’s past.

The Eastern Southland Gallery is home to the John Money Collection and a permanent exhibition of works by Ralph Hotere. Cultural events and regional traditions also shape what the Gore District has to offer: Tussock Country is New Zealand’s largest country music festival. Hokonui Moonshine is now a major tourist attraction based on the district’s former illicit whisky industry.

For travel bookings, the Gore Visitor Centre can assist with InterCity and Kiwirail Scenic Journeys. This is a practical addition to the nature and culture themes of your stay, without limiting your plans to just one type of experience.

Discover more destinations: Gore, Mataura, Southland District, Invercargill City.

For the wider travel overview: Southland.