Transport World Museum

For the second year running we have closed the lodge over the winter months to allow maintenance and a rest from hosting. We have found the tourist numbers in the boutique market continue to grow with agent bookings up by about 20%.

Destination Invercargill

Invercargill has arrived as a tourist destination in its own right we are seeing less and less of one night stays or as a stopover between the Catlins, Te Anau  and Stewart Island. The Richardson Transport Group has put us on the map with Transport World, the world’s largest collection of its type in the world, Motor Cycle Mecca and their latest attraction Dig This ( hiring excavators and bulldozers in a giant gravel pit to play in ).

All sorts of “Big Boys Toys” to drive. Great fun

MotorCycle Mecca, a wonderful collection of old Motorbikes

Our Own Vintage Cars and Bikes

Ray and I have always fitted in well with the Motorcycle and vintage car theme in Invercargill with our own vintage vehicles and motor bikes. Rays latest project is a 65 Mustang Convertible 

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We have enjoyed another busy year at the Lodge with  both private functions and guest nights. We held our 3rd Murder mystery in July . Renaldo ( Ray ) was poisoned by one of the participants and only  one person out of twenty was able to figure out the plot. Loads of fun had by all.

Plus a Holiday

We managed to sneak  away for a  bit of a holiday in September driving through to Auckland in our Landrover covering about 4500ks in 2 weeks. Not the most comfortable but a tad better than the Harley-Davidson, at least I could do a spot of shopping on the way. We enjoyed a lovely Lunch with Stephanie May in Devenport and had the grand tour of her beautiful new old church/house. We spent time with the rallies in Auckland and checked out some of the local cafe’s. Not being bias but I do believe that we have far more to offer than Ponsonby . For the Aucklanders that haven’t experienced the Deep South and all it has to offer ‘You don’t know what you are missing out on’. Ray had arranged to go hunting with friends in Taupo and shot a spiker ( year old stag) near the Wanganui River. We bought the treasured venison home in our off road fridge/freezer in the back of the Landrover. It matured nicely after a week travelling home , ready for steaks stews and Biltong.

Weta Worksops

We did the Touristy thing Wellington with a visit to Weta workshop and Zealandia both incredible tourist attractions with displays of interest for locals and international guests. Unfortunately the second week of our holiday turned to Custard as I picked up some sort of virus and luckily I had the fore sight to book us out for a few days after we returned.  This year’s season is starting well with quite a few walk ins and last minute bookings

Trish & Ray
Safari Lodge
51 Herbert Street, Invercargill.

[email protected]

64 3 214 6329
0800 885 557

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During the last 12 months we have managed to get out and about touring on our old Harley Davidson Motorcycle with a trip to Auckland and a Rally at Mount Cook. The only down side of running Safari Lodge Invercargill, is the summer months are spent in doors. We frequently  host guests with like minded interests of motorbikes and touring.

The Worlds Fastest Indian

The ‘World’s Fastest Indian‘ has not only bought attention to one of New Zealand’s unknown hero’s it has also boosted our tourism Industry with local and International visitors. The Burt Munro Challenge gets bigger and brighter every year. Invercargill has always been a petrol head town with either car enthusiasts or motorcycle owners. We often joke about Ray rebuilding his Norton Commando in our lounge many years ago. We have toured the South Island countless times over the years and with several trips around the North Island. Our most memorable trip was of course riding across America and attending the 100 year anniversary of Harley Davidson 2003 in Milwaukee . Now days Ray is just as happy chugging up the lake in his old Kauri Launch fishing and at least now I don’t have to remind him what the speed limit is so often.

Bill Richardson Truck Museum

We have one of the largest private collections of trucks in world down here with access available by appointment only. The collection is housed within the city boundary and like most tourism operators we are hoping that greater access for the public will happen sometime in the near future. In the meantime we arrange to get our guests into see the collection whenever possible, just another hidden gem in the deep south.

https://www.hwr.co.nz/truck-museum

We can see that Invercargill could become New Zealand’s top petrol head destination !

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On the 10th August 2013 Ray and I held a ‘Wild Food Competition’ for the Southern Regional Early Ford V8 club of America. We created our own gourmet sausages from Wild Duck, Rabbit, Hare and Venison which Ray had personally shot and prepared. We served up Rabbit & Smoked Cheese sausages,  Hare & Herb sausages and Wild Duck & Berry sausages. Most people had eaten our gourmet delights without realising the unusual ingredients.

Trish & Ray, Chefs Extraordinaire

The competition involved a verbal presentation on how the wild animal was hunted with many of the stories prone to exaggeration. We had  a good variety of entries ranging from Mutton Birds to Venison but there were some very suspicious looking ordinary dishes as well. The evening  was a great success with a promise of maybe running the event again sometime in the future.

Great Venue

The Team

Ray’ s 8 car garage lends itself well for these type of events we were able to run the BBQ for the Kentucky Fried styled Rabbit wings and legs (they were a bit chewy! )

The Guests of Honour

The Car

Ray has just finished rebuilding his motor for our 1949 Ford V8 and look forward to it being on the road early in the new year.  

Trish & Ray
Safari Lodge
51 Herbert Street, Invercargill.

[email protected]

64 3 214 6329
0800 885 557

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