The rural town of Gore in the Southland region of the South Island. It is the official home of country music in New Zealand.

Every year in early June, Gore hosts the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards, which incorporates the New Zealand Line Dancing Championships.

It’s also known for great fly fishing. In addition to the Mataura River, there are many productive streams in the are. And guided fishing trips are available.

The fishing and country music aren’t the only things to bring you here. Maybe you’d rather go flying in a Tiger Moth? Museums your thing?

Visit Gore’s Hokonui Moonshine Museum to learn about the area’s history of illicit whisky distilling. The Hokonui Moonshiners’ Festival celebrates this history in every March.

For insight into Gore’s Maori and European settler past, head to Gore Historical Museum.

And to see one of the finest art collections in Southland, visit the Eastern Southland Gallery. Here you’ll see the renowned John Money collection of New Zealand art and one of the country’s best collection of works by Ralph Hotere.