Balfour, Southland Map

About Balfour, Southland

Balfour is a locality in the Southland Region of New Zealand. It sits at an elevation of around 176 m above sea level. It lies approximately 66 km north-northeast of Invercargill, the regional capital. Balfour is located at 45.8333°S, 168.5833°E. It observes New Zealand Time (NZST/NZDT).

Balfour lies cradled in a wide, fertile valley, where the land rolls gently towards the distant, softly rounded contours of the Hokonui Hills. It lies 65.5 km north-north-east of Invercargill (from Invercargill: bearing 16°T), and is situated 40.9 km north-west of Gore. The air here carries the clean, crisp scent of cultivated fields and pasture, a subtle perfume that speaks of the Southland soil. The sky above Balfour often stretches in vast, luminous expanses, its colour shifting from the pale blue of morning to the deep indigo of twilight, and the light, particularly in the late afternoon, can cast a golden hue across the landscape, softening the edges of the farmland and illuminating the distant slopes. The Mataura River, a steady presence some eight kilometres to the east, contributes its own quiet murmur to the regional soundscape, its waters flowing with a timeless purpose through the heart of this inland territory.

The economic pulse of Balfour has long been tied to the richness of its agricultural surroundings, a legacy of hardy settlers who transformed the land into productive dairy farms and sheep stations. This enduring connection to the soil remains a defining characteristic, evident in the neat lines of fenced paddocks and the contented lowing of cattle. Beyond the immediate agricultural pursuits, the presence of Taylors Bush, a verdant expanse twenty-two kilometres away, hints at the broader natural heritage of the region, a place where native flora thrives and whispers of a wilder past. While not a hub of grand monuments, Balfour possesses a quiet dignity, its history woven into the everyday lives of its inhabitants, a story of persistence and a deep appreciation for the land that sustains them.

About This Balfour Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Balfour, Southland, New Zealand — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: -45.83333, 168.58333. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time New Zealand and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorial description provides background on Balfour.

Balfour sits within the Southland Region. Location data is drawn from the GeoNames geographical database and verified by coordinates, ensuring the correct Balfour is identified even where the name is shared across multiple New Zealand localities.