The small coastal town of Riverton is regarded as the ‘Riviera of the South’. It’s situated on the Southern Scenic Route between excellent safe swimming and exciting surfing beaches and rolling farmland and hills inland. Invercargill, the main service centre, is within 40 minutes drive and Te Anau, the gateway to Milford Sound and Fiordland, is an hour and a half away. Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand, is two hours to the north. Riverton is an attractive area with a high standard of amenities, services and activities, which provide quality of life for residents and is a destination for visitors and holiday homeowners.
Riverton is situated around a lagoon estuary, a haven for fishing, boating, kayaking and wildlife. The main part of the town is on flat land but South Riverton is built on the hills between the eastern shore of the estuary and Riverton Rocks Beach. The surrounding district comprises the southwest portion of the Southland Plain with views through to the Fiordland mountains, the Takitimu mountains and the Southern Alps.
The rural employment in the district is based around sheep, dairy, and mixed farming. The town is primarily a trade, servicing and tourism hub with a newly constructed museum and visitor information centre. Recently the area has attracted a number of well-regarded artists and craftspeople centred around the Arts Centre. Riverton’s industrial activities include boatbuilding, paua jewellery manufacture and light engineering. The bar harbour is used by small craft engaged in commercial fishing, chiefly on the Foveaux Straits and by recreational fishermen. Natural marine attractions near Riverton, centered on Riverton Rocks, attract some seasonal holiday traffic.
Riverton is the oldest permanent settlement in the South Island and one of the oldest in New Zealand. The locality was first visited by sealers about the end of the eighteenth century for replenishment of provisions and refreshment of crews. It became known as Jacob’s River. In 1836 John Jones sent Captain John Howell with three ships to establish a whaling station. The station proved successful and was later bought by Howell for himself. In 1838 Howell married the daughter of the Ngati Mamoe chief of Centre Island and received a large block of land between the Aparima and Waimatuku Rivers.
For sports lovers there are a number of options including excellent golf courses (local green fees for non-members $10), active rugby and netball clubs, squash, bowls, tennis, rowing, sailing and a heated indoor 25m swimming pool. Other activities include fishing, hunting and tramping. The nearest winter skiing is at Queenstown.
Schooling and childcare facilities include an age 11-18 years high school with 2 feeder primary schools, kindergarten, childcare centre and play groups.
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The small coastal town of Riverton is regarded as the ‘Riviera of the South’. It’s situated on the Southern Scenic Route between excellent safe swimming and exciting surfing beaches and rolling farmland and hills inland. Invercargill, the main service centre, is within 40 minutes drive and Te Anau, the gateway to Milford Sound and Fiordland, is an hour and a half away. Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand, is two hours to the north. Riverton is an attractive area with a high standard of amenities, services and activities, which provide quality of life for residents and is a destination for visitors and holiday homeowners. 
jewellery manufacture and light engineering. The bar harbour is used by small craft engaged in commercial fishing, chiefly on the Foveaux Straits and by recreational fishermen. Natural marine attractions near Riverton, centered on Riverton Rocks, attract some seasonal holiday traffic.