30km south of Invercargill, at the southern tip of the South Island, is the port of Bluff (pop. 2,500). It lies on a promontory reaching out into the Foveaux Strait under the Old Man Bluff (265m), from which there are wide views. The port's main trade is in frozen lamb and it also has a small fishing fleet. The oysters and crayfish of the
Foveaux Strait are much valued. The town's maritime museum is devoted to the history of the town and the oyster fisheries.
There is a ferry service between Bluff and Halfmoon Bay on Stewart Island.