Queens Park was laid out in 1876 as part of the original city plan, and it remains the green heart of Invercargill. The 80 hectares include formal rose gardens, a Japanese garden, an aviary, a small deer park, a band rotunda, and enough sports grounds to keep a small town occupied. Entry is free throughout.
The park connects directly to Te Unua Museum of Southland at its Gala Street entrance. On a fine Southland day — and there are more of them than the reputation suggests — it is a genuinely lovely place to spend an afternoon. The rose garden is at its best between December and February. Winter turns it quieter but not uninviting; the deciduous trees along the central avenue put on a reliable autumn display in March and April.