Last updated November 2026
Sir Joseph Ward began his working life in Bluff as a 13 year old Post Office messenger boy and went on to become Prime Minister twice, and many stops on the Bluff Heritage Trail have links to him and his family.
The self-guided trail covers 17 historic sites spread over about 20 km in and around Bluff, which Great South calls New Zealand’s southernmost town.
Along the way it takes in a country church at Greenhills, old boats in a harbour ship graveyard, the town cemetery, the war memorial and Stirling Point. You can start at any point, and Great South suggests allowing half a day.
Practical Information
- Location
- Bluff and Greenhills; Great South lists the trail at Stirling Point, 39 Ward Parade, Bluff
- Distance
- About 21 km from Invercargill city centre in a straight line
- Length
- About 20 km, with 17 historic sites
- Time needed
- Allow half a day
- Format
- Self-guided; start at any point. The trail brochure maps a recommended vehicle route.
- Trail guide
- Bluff Heritage Trail brochure (PDF, a Bluff History Group project), linked from Great South’s trail page
- Status
- Check Great South’s Bluff Heritage Trail page before you go.
About Bluff Heritage Trail
The trail is a project of the Bluff History Group, and its brochure is linked from Great South’s southlandnz.com trail page. Great South describes it as 17 historic sites around one of the earliest settlements in New Zealand, and the brochure presents the route as a way to commemorate the life of Bluff’s best-known son.
Great South’s trail page notes that Māori settled at Bluff centuries ago, followed by European whalers and traders, and that the town grew into a centre for shipping, fishing and politics. The brochure picks up the same thread with the whaling, sealing and shipping that shaped the town.
Joseph Ward came to Bluff from Melbourne as a boy and started work at 13 as a Post Office messenger. He entered politics in 1878, served as Mayor of Bluff from 1881 to 1888 and again from 1897 to 1898, and was Prime Minister from 1906 to 1912 and from 1928 to 1930. The trail links several sites to Ward and his family, and his statue is one of its stops.
The brochure also suggests looking out for things between the numbered stops, such as the small Ocean Beach Church on Nichol Road.
Stops on the Trail
The brochure numbers its sites in route order, starting at Greenhills and finishing at Stirling Point. Its stops include Greenhills Church, the Greenpoint Walkway and Ship’s Graveyard, the oyster boat Monica II at Bluff Maritime Museum, the statue of Sir Joseph Ward, the Bluff Cemetery, the War Memorial, the Second World War gun pit and Stirling Point.
Greenhills Church
This weatherboard country church stands on land given by Samuel Sullivan, a local man who also did most of the building, using timber from local sawmills. Children used it as a school in its first years. The church was deconsecrated in 2001 and is listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 2 historic place (List No. 3266).
Statue of Sir Joseph Ward
Auckland sculptor W. H. Feldon carved the statue from white marble. It stands where Blackwater, Gore and Shannon Streets meet and faces east towards the town centre. Heritage New Zealand lists it as a Category 2 historic place (List No. 9263) and records that the public can visit it.
War Memorial
The memorial on Marine Parade, opposite Tiwai Peninsula, carries the names of Bluff men who died in war.
From locals
Where exactly is the Sir Joseph Ward statue in Bluff?
Is parking easy at most of the stops, like Stirling Point and the cemetery?
No answers yet. If you know, a local would love to hear it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Bluff Heritage Trail?
About 20 km, with 17 historic sites. Great South suggests allowing half a day.
Where does the trail start?
You can start at any point. The brochure’s numbered route runs from Greenhills Church to Stirling Point.
Is it a walk or a drive?
The brochure maps a recommended vehicle route between the sites.
Who put the trail together?
It is a project of the Bluff History Group, with the brochure available through Great South.
What is the connection to Sir Joseph Ward?
Ward grew up in Bluff, was the town’s mayor and later Prime Minister twice. Many trail sites are linked to him and his family, and his statue is one of the stops.
Which stops are heritage listed?
Among others, the Sir Joseph Ward statue and Greenhills Church are both Category 2 historic places on the Heritage New Zealand List.
How far is Bluff from Invercargill?
About 21 km from Invercargill city centre in a straight line.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Related links 3
- Great South: Bluff Heritage Trail: an overview of the trail and the link to the brochure.
- Heritage New Zealand: Sir Joseph Ward Statue: the statue’s history and Ward’s life.
- Heritage New Zealand: Greenhills Church: the story of the church and its builder.