Sending flowers to Invercargill

Strict flower rules at Southland Hospital

Southland Hospital in Kew is a public secondary hospital of about 168 beds. It opened in 2004 and serves Southland and parts of Otago. Because fresh flowers pose a risk to patients with respiratory disorders, Health New Zealand says they cannot be brought into these areas:

• intensive care unit
• high dependency unit
• oncology ward
• cardiovascular ward
• respiratory ward
• surgical ward
• medical ward
• multi-bed rooms

That covers much of the hospital, so check with the ward before sending – the hospital itself says to check with ward reception if you are using a florist. Sending to the patient's home for their return is often the better option. Read more on our Southland Hospital page.

Queens Park and a city of gardens

Queens Park was part of the original plan for Invercargill in 1856, and the Feldwick Gates at its Gala Street entrance date from 1924. Today it is a five-star garden at 200 Gala Street, with modern and old-fashioned roses (including the Jessie Calder Gardens), Japanese and Chinese gardens, a rhododendron dell and azalea garden, irises and native collections. Entry is free, dawn to dusk.

If the person you are sending to is a keen gardener, roses or a potted azalea can echo a place they know well.

Wind, cloud and flowers on the step

Invercargill is New Zealand's second-windiest city after Wellington and narrowly its cloudiest, with about 1,764 sunshine hours a year. Wind is hard on blooms left outside, so:

• add the recipient's phone number so the driver can make contact;
• suggest a sheltered spot in the delivery notes if no one may be home;
• consider a workplace address on a weekday.

Eastern and St John's: sympathy flowers

The city's cemeteries in our data are Eastern Cemetery and St John's Cemetery. Funeral flowers are usually sent to the funeral home or the family rather than the cemetery; our sympathy flower guide explains the customs. For other towns in the south, from Te Anau to Stewart Island, see the Southland region overview.

Places flowers often go in Invercargill

Hospitals

• Southland Hospital

Cemeteries

• Eastern Cemetery
• St John's Cemetery

Put the recipient’s ward, room or the funeral director’s name on the order so the florist can find them.