All-Weather and Indoor Activities in Invercargill (Perfect for Rainy Days!)
It’s true, Invercargill is known to have a fair few rainy days. It’s in New Zealand, after all! So if you get caught in the rain in Invercargill, make sure you have a great backup plan with this list of things to do in Invercargill on a rainy day.
Invercargill, New Zealand’s southernmost city, has a great selection of all-weather and indoor activities, from vintage car museums to delectable eateries, some of which we even mention in our 10 Best Things to Do in Invercargill.
1. Admire the Art at He Waka Tuia + Museum
Invercargill city centre is home to a fantastic art gallery which will give you something to do while the rain is pouring. The He Waka Tuia Art + Museum showcases a permanent collection of works from well-known New Zealand artists. Alongside paintings, you’re likely to see a number of carvings, ceramics, sculptures and mixed-media pieces.
Location: 42 Kelvin Street.
© MaxPixel2. Treat Yourself to a Southland Cheese Roll
Invercargill has a wealth of fantastic eateries where there should be one famous New Zealand food on your “to-try” list: a Southland cheese roll. Most cafes in Invercargill serve this speciality of the southern South Island, such as The Batch Cafe and The Cheeky Llama Cafe. If you have more of a sweet tooth, sit down for some artisan chocolate treats at Invercargill’s very own chocolate factory, Seriously Good Chocolate Company. Oh, and they also do cheese rolls.
Location: The Batch Cafe – 173 Spey Street. The Cheeky Llama Cafe – 216 Queens Drive. Seriously Good Chocolate Company- 147 Spey Street.
© NZPocketGuide.com3. Get Sporty at ILT Stadium Southland
Get competitive with your mates or loved ones at the ILT Stadium. The stadium has seven wooden sprung multi-sport courts, four squash courts, 10 clip n’ climb climbing walls, a normal climbing wall, and a bubble ball court. It’s also home to the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome, which is New Zealand’s only indoor velodrome. Call ahead to see if you can go for a ride.
Location: 18 Surrey Park Road
© Pixabay4. Check Out Vintage Vehicles at Bill Richardson Transport World
Check out one of the largest collections of restored vintage vehicles of its kind at Bill Richardson Transport World (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor). The indoor attraction showcases the Richardson family’s private collection of more than 170 trucks and vehicles from more than 50 different manufacturers. There’s also heritage memorabilia on display, as well as a World of Wearable Art (WOW) exhibition. After you’ve spent a couple of hours seeing everything there is to see, sit down to a nice hot drink at the American-style diner, the Grille Cafe.
Location: 491 Tay Street
© NZPocketGuide.com5. See the World’s Fastest Indian at E Hayes and Sons Ltd
Another one for the petrolheads, this vintage vehicle collection is in the unusual location of the E Hayes and Sons Ltd hardware store. The hardware store has been serving Southland for more than 100 years and even has a few vintage relics to celebrate. Check out the original Burt Munro’s “World’s Fastest Indian” on display among other vintage motorworks. What’s more, it’s free to visit! Check out more freebies in the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Invercargill.
Location: 168 Dee Street
© NZPocketGuide.com6. Do Indoor Go-Karting
Enjoy high-speed thrills on this drifting indoor go-karting track in Invercargill. The specially-designed track allows you to drift and overtake at many different points. Xtreme Karts is open from Tuesday to Sunday. There is a minimum age requirement to drive of eight years old.
Location: 76 Annan Street
© Jina Lee on Wikipedia7. Play 10 Pin Bowling
Another fun indoor activity that you can rely on on a rainy day is Invercargill’s Superbowl! The entertainment centre provides fun for all ages. You can easily spend the day here challenging each other while fuelled by the drinks, snacks and meals for sale, as well as the will to perfect your aim! See more like this in the 10 Things to Do in Invercargill with Kids.
Location: 105 Kelvin Street
© pxhere8. Get Wet and Wild at Splash Palace
There’s fun for everyone at Invercargill’s indoor aquatic centre, Splash Palace. Choose to relax and unwind at the sauna, spa and cafe or jump on the exciting hydro slides for kids and kids-at-heart. Or, you know, you could always go for a classic swim in the pool.
Location: 56-58 Elles Road
© NZPocketGuide.com9. Go for a Jump at Jump n Fun
The ultimate indoor activity centre in Invercargill, Jump n Fun has fun games and activities for children of all ages. Jump into the foam pit, battle it out in the bouncy dodgeball arena, test your skills on the Olympic trampolines, or play on the arcade games.
Location: 53 Nith Street
© Unsplash10. See if You Can Solve Invercargill’s Escape Room
Find clues, crack codes and solve riddles together at Solve It And Escape! The escape room offers 60 minutes of rainy day relief with a choice of four different themed rooms to escape before the time runs out. Games are designed for groups of two to six players.
Location: 170 Dee Street
© NZPocketGuide.com11. Watch the Latest Blockbuster
Admittedly, going to the cinema isn’t the most inspired option on this list of things to do in Invercargill on a rainy day but it’s a rainy day activity nonetheless! Sit back in one of the five screens of Reading Cinemas showing the latest releases.
Location: 29 Dee Street
© Unsplash12. Go Shopping
There’s plenty of places to pick up souvenirs or get some retail therapy in Invercargill. The central business district andWindsor Village is packed with shops that will keep you out of the rain until you have to dart to the next shop.
Location: CBD
© NZPocketGuide.com13. Take a Trip to Riverton and the Te Hikoi Museum
Alternatively, you could get out of town to the nearby Riverton with its own set of indoor attractions. One such attraction is one of the must-visit museums of the South Island, Te Hikoi Museum. Learn stories of sailings on the Roaring Forties, enjoy interactive displays of how Maori and early Europeans survived in this wild part of New Zealand, and gain insights into the seasonal lifestyles of the South Island Maori. The town has a few quaint cafes and, if there’s a break in the rain, go and check out the beaches. Head over to the 5 Fun Things to Do in Riverton for more information.
Location: 172 Palmerston Street, Riverton, approximately 38km (24 miles) from Invercargill city centre.
© NZPocketGuide.com14. Binge-Watch 365 Days, 365 Activities in New Zealand
Ok, so this is a bit of shameless self-promotion here, but did you know that the team from NZPocketGuide.com did 365 days of 365 activities in New Zealand? Get some New Zealand bucket list inspiration for the next leg of your trip by watching some of our awesome episodes on YouTube!
More Things to Do in Invercargill
That’s it for our list of things to do in Invercargill on a rainy day. Get even more Invercargill advice from our guides:
