Their magnificent appearance harps back to the age of dinosaurs. Invercargill Tuatara live in a well mimicked natural environment. It is enhanced by the bullet-proof glass exterior looking out onto Queens Park . This also means Tuatara can be viewed from the park, outside of normal opening hours. Take a peek after dark to catch these nocturnal creatures 'puffing up' or 'raising their spines', as they greet one another beneath the soft red lights.
Nothing stirs the lush native growth.
Time all but stands still here. For this is home to ancient Tuatara. Galleries, Art and Craft Situated on the edge of Queens Park , the Southland Museum and Art Gallery building is the largest pyramid in the Southern Hemisphere. Inside there is 500 million years of Southland's natural history and 800 years of its human history. Three art galleries feature changing displays of local, national and international art, from historical to contemporary.