One of the most iconic celebrations of all thing’s seafood is the annual Bluff Oyster & Food Festival. But the festival is about much more than just the humble oyster. All manner of seafood and other ‘wild’ foods are celebrated and presented in ways you never dreamed about. So much of the southern economy is tied into the sea and we’re going to celebrate with the locals in 2025.
Day 1: First day of our adventure we’ll fly from Hawke’s Bay to Invercargill and settle into our accommodation at the Ascot Park Hotel.
Day 2: Today is the day of the Bluff Oyster & Food Festival itself. Imagine an abundance of oysters (surprise, surprise), pāua, salmon, blue cod, mussels, crayfish and whitebait. Add local wild venison, muttonbird, wild pork and escargot (yep, that’s snails!) and this is a festive feast like no other. We’ll transport you to and from the festival grounds.
Day 3: We visit Transport World in the morning. This temple of transport pays homage to all manner of motor vehicle and a lot else besides. It’s absolutely world-class in its scale and presentation and there’s definitely something here for everyone. After lunch at their café your afternoon is free time. Perhaps a walk through beautiful Queens Park or check out the shops at Invercargills’ new mall – Invercargill Central. There’s certainly plenty to see and do in this most southern city in the world.
Day 4: We make our way home after a superb weekend in the deep south. The Bluff Oyster Festival celebrates all things Kiwi and is an event not to be missed. Places are limited so book now.
Our own born and bred Southlander and oyster fanatic, Ken, now living in exile here in Hawke’s Bay, will lead this tour into his native patch.