Invercargill is the southernmost city in the world, equivalent in latitude to central France. The city is gateway to some of New Zealand's most beautiful scenery in the Catlins, Fiordland and Stewart Island. Reflecting the Scottish background of the immigrants who settled in Invercargill, many of the city's wide streets bear the names of Scottish rivers. The other legacy the Scots left their descendants was a distinctive accent and a charming tendency to describe things both large and small as 'wee'. The city of 52,000 has many elegant buildings, neat gardens and tree filled parks. It has an excellent museum which includes a 'tuatarium' - home to the ancient and rare native reptile, the tuatara. Queens Park, situated in the heart of the city features an aviary, small animal park, rose and rhododendron gardens. A short drive from the city centre is Anderson, a beautiful Georgian-style home gifted to the city and used as an art gallery. Bluff, south of Invercargill is Southland's principal port and features the huge Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter. Bluff is also the home port for a large fishing fleet but its real claim to fame are its huge oysters. East of Invercargill, on the Southern Scenic Highway from Dunedin, the Catlins Forest Park offers some great walks and magnificent scenery, including Cathedral Cove, blowholes, petrified forest and at Curio Bay, you are able to view the small Hector's dolphins.