"Heartland"

Gore is a thriving, attractive town, sitting picturesquely on the banks of the famous Mataura River. This river, which wends its way through some of our most productive farmland, is famed for the excellence of its trout fishing.

Gore is the commercial and service centre for a large rural area - famous for its farming produce - lambs, grain and dairy products.

The town offers excellent shopping, cultural, dining and accommodation facilities. Its recreational facilities are the envy of others. The locals would be delighted to share these with you.

Clean, green, unhurried - that's us.  We are happy to stop and talk. Visitors are treated like locals. Stand and look around - check your pulse!

Getting around our province is easy. The roads are all of good quality and are well sign-posted. Traffic volumes are low. Our environment is safe and family-friendly.

Gore is central to the whole of Southland, Otago and Fiordland. Within one and a half hours easy drive you can reach the Catlins - famous for its forests, beaches and wildlife. You can visit the South Coast within an hour and a half. A day excursion to fabulous Stewart Island is no problem either.

Travel to picturesque and historic Riverton on the south coast and continue around the Southern Scenic Route to Tuatapere, with its renowned Hump Ridge track, and then on to Manapouri and Te Anau. Central Otago and Queenstown can be reached within two hours of driving through fabulous scenery. Even a return trip to the world-famous Milford Sound can be made in a day.

Whichever direction you go, you will soon discover why locals consider themselves lucky to live here.

As well as fishing, you can play golf on our lovely 18 hole course. Throughout the region there are a number of walks and tramps. All are safe and family-friendly.

Within the town there is a variety of shops, restaurants and facilities catering for visitors' needs.

Gore has always been a garden town. Visitors routinely remark on the colourful municipal gardens and immaculately tended green areas. These attracts tour groups and admirers from afar. A bird aviary is located at one end.

Bannerman Park, on the north hillside of the town is another fine garden. It provides a wonderful walk.

Visit Maple Glen - the world famous gardens at Wyndham, 40 min drive from Gore.

Garden lovers should not ignore Dolamore Park, a 95 ha. podocarp forest with walkways, playgrounds and camping facilities.  These facilities are found at the foot of the legendary Hokonui Hills, all 15 minutes drive from Gore.

Activities for Visitors

As well as the numerous garden delights, there are the following;

Fishing - Our local river, the Mataura, is reputed to be the best brown trout fishing river in the world. Locals are only too happy to share it with you. Match wits with one of the infamously wily local trout. For a memorable day on the river you could engage the services of a knowledgeable local guide.

Pioneer Park - a model historic town with cottage, bank, church and school. Its vintage machinery museum contains a variety of tools and machines of yesteryear. The park is equipped with a golf driving range.

The Reservation - Sited with a superb view over the town. It hosts over 400 species of birds and animals. A must-see for those with children.

Eastern Southland Art Gallery - Our nationally famous gallery.

A community cultural centre which hosts exhibitions, performances and projects of a variety of artists.

Currently it hosts the Internationally famous John Money collection.

Riversdale Tractor Museum - 20 min north of Gore. This museum houses the largest collection of vintage tractors in the south.

Tapanui Museum - Contain another interesting collection of vintage machinery.

Moonshine Museum - Gore has long been associated with the making of illicit whisky in the nearby Hokonui Hills in the 1800s and early 1900s. See the full story revealed in the numerous exhibits in this wonderful museum. The stuff of legends! Located at the Gore Information Centre on Hokonui Drive.

Gore Historical and Research Museum - attached to the Moonshine Museum at the Hokonui Heritage centre, it showcases our early pioneering heritage. It also contains valuable family and district records - all available to researchers.

Information Centre. - The Hokonui Heritage Centre - Hokonui Drive.

Croydon Aircraft Company - Mandeville airfield - 10 min drive north of the town. Here you can see antique De Havilland aircraft being restored. Fly in one of the venerable Tiger Moth planes that are available for hire.

Visit the outstanding Moth Restaurant while you are there.

Gore Airforce Museum. This small museum contains exhibits of our RNZAF past.

The Multisports Centre. This complex makes us the envy of many other communities. It contains a heated swimming pool and an Olympic sized ice skating rink. Further additions are planned.

Annual Events

Gore is becoming well known nationally and internationally for the number and type of events it hosts. Among these are;

E-mail: esplanademotelsgore@hotmail.com

Freephone: 0800 28 50 50  (for reservations only)

Visit the AA travel website at:  www.aatravel.co.nz