Discover Wyndham
Accommodation in Wyndham
Explore Wyndham through its annual A&P Show, the Mataura River, and its local history offerings. For planning your dates, the Wyndham A&P Show is a clear point of reference: it takes place every year on the first Saturday in December. Alongside it, a range of interests come together—from nature and the river to collections covering families, agriculture, and community life across the wider Wyndham region. You can choose the focus of your trip based on whether a particular event date, nature, or regional history matters most to you.
Wyndham A&P Show: dates and programme
The distinctive mix at the Wyndham A&P Show includes livestock, homemade jams and chutneys, wood-chopping competitions, plenty of horses, and gumboots. Visitors can take part or watch in categories for horses, cattle, sheep, vegetables, animals, and arts and crafts. The event brings together animal and agricultural themes with competitions and other categories to suit a range of interests. The annual December date is useful for general planning; check the specific event dates in advance when making concrete plans.
Mataura River and recreation spots
The Mataura River forms the northern boundary of Wyndham Recreation Reserve; the Wyndham Wildlife Refuge lies immediately on its eastern bank. The Recreation Reserve offers informal activities such as walking and picnicking. Check local conditions before planning a walk or picnic. The Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for a wide variety of bird species and is classified as “Recreation (Wildlife Refuge)”.
Fishing on the Mataura River
There are many fish in the Mataura River between Wyndham and the Gore Road Bridge; their average weight is about 1.2 kilograms. The stretch runs from Wyndham towards Gore. Along the wider river section, there are good access points to the river at several road crossings, especially where roads cross it. Conditions at each crossing can vary, so it is worth checking access on site. The average of about 1.2 kilograms describes the group, not necessarily every individual fish.
History in Wyndham and the Southland District
The Wyndham and District Historical Museum focuses on the wider Wyndham region. Its collections include family genealogies, sheep and dairy farming, dairies, horse racing, household items, and the history of local clubs and societies. These topics connect family history and everyday objects with agriculture and community life. If you plan to visit the museum, check current visiting arrangements.
There are around ten museums in the Southland District that tell the story of Southland Province and its people. Their collections range from historic machinery to whaling artefacts.
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