Southland Experience - The Verdict

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We had a fantastic time in Southland.

Firstly full credit to everyone involved in the Final Four basketball extravaganza, Stadium Southland is a fantastic facility. Special mention to the people of Southland who turned out in force to support the Sharks on Friday and then backed up the next day for the final despite their team not being involved. The atmosphere, noise and sheer excitement of the Saints v Sharks semi final is something that will stay with us for a very long time. Big ups to Shooter the Shark the Southland mascot for her brilliant performance on semi final night😊

Invercargill itself does have a bit of a 'back in time' feel about it - in the best possible way. There's heaps of character buildings around the CBD, the streets are super wide and people really friendly. Disappointingly there were surprisingly few people who really rolled their rrrr's. Queens Park is a beautiful space and the Batch and Buster Crabb are outstanding dining options. Zookeeper Cafe is definitely worth a look and is a great breakfast spot to start your day.

It was great to catch up with Jody and the Fairfax Invecargill (Southland Times) team and to explore the rural areas surrounding the city. Particularly enjoyed our half day in Bluff and the Catlins were awesome.

Did I mention the Invercargill Brewery Wasp beer is a nice drop!

Looking forward to returning in the not too distant future, all going well for Jody's wedding in December.

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Photos

Southland Bandwagon!
Yup we've had a great few days in Southland and we're well and truly on the bandwagon. It's an fantastic part of the country and well worth the trip down. Thanks to everyone who helped make our stay so awesome. And Go the Mighty Saints Title No 10 in 2017 has a nice ring to it!

Poster Boy
Only been here a few days and already I'm a poster boy for Invercargill!