About Bluff Hill
Bluff Hill is a significant geographical landmark of Southland. The hill rises 265m from the sea and on a fine day it can be seen from as far away as Fiordland. Excluding the town, the hill encompasses approx. 630 hectares of land, which is connected to the mainland by a 300m wide isthmus at Ocean Beach.
Bluff is a diverse hill, comprised of a wide variety of habitat types; puggy farmland, gorse, pine forest, regenerating native scrub, and a beautiful patch of original podocarp/kamahi forest with much rata, rimu, miro and totara to name a few species.
View from near the top of the hill looking toward the Ocean Beach isthmus.
Bluff Hill from Ocean Beach, titi in foreground.
Four different groups own the land. These are Invercargill City Council, Department of Conservation (DOC), Te Runaka o Awarua Charitable Trust and Ocean Beach Properties Ltd. The most ecologically valuable land is administered by DOC. Bluff Hill is a Topuni site and as such is an area of great importance to Ngai Tahu.
 
http://www.bluffenvirotrust.org/
http://www.bluffenvirotrust.org/About_Bluff_Hill.html
http://www.bluffenvirotrust.org/Objectives.html
http://www.bluffenvirotrust.org/Whats_Going_On.html
http://www.bluffenvirotrust.org/The_Enemies.html
http://www.bluffenvirotrust.org/The_Kill_Tally.html
http://www.bluffenvirotrust.org/Get_in_Touch.html
Photo: Sherman Smith

The geographical layout of Bluff with its narrow land bridge makes pest control ecologically sustainable, cost effective and most of all, achievable.
There are few remnants of coastal Podocarp/Kamahi/Rata forest left on the mainland and few as accessible and popular as Bluff Hill.
The Hill is very well used by walkers, runners and mountain bikers as there are extensive walking tracks, and the only downhill mountain bike tracks in easy reach of Invercargill.
The stunning coastline is valued by divers and shore fishermen alike for its rugged beauty, kaimoana and easy access (via the walking tracks).
Bluff Hill (centre) from the west
Follow State Highway One as far as south as you can go and you'll get to the township of Bluff (pop. 1850). It's one of NZ's oldest towns with the first ship's arrival recorded in 1813 and settlement starting in 1824 due to sealing and whaling. Prior to European settlement the main Maori settlement was on nearby Ruapuke Is. Bluff is now a maritime town with much of its employment relying upon the sea in various forms.
Last year 60,000 visitors came through Bluff on their way to Stewart Island, many stay and explore the historical sights, walk the tracks and admire the views.  As proud Bluff residents we want our visitors and our future generations to enjoy the uniqueness of Bluff Hill as it should be: a thriving ecosystem abundant with birds and with as few introduced predators as possible.
A predator-controlled environment on Bluff Hill provides a link in the corridor between Stewart Island, Ruapuke Island, Otatara, Mores Reserve and Fiordland. 

The same view as above right, but with clouds and bushes.