The name Teretonga derives from the Maori for "Swift South," an apt description for a circuit built at the bottom of the South Island. The Southland Sports Car Club, founded in 1948, was among the leading clubs in New Zealand and entered the international race series in 1956 with what was then the fastest motor race ever held on a road circuit in the country, staged at Ryal Bush. That success prompted the construction of Teretonga Park in 1957 at Sandy Point, making it the second purpose-built motor racing track in New Zealand.
The circuit was extended to its present configuration in December 1966 and has continued to evolve on a continual basis. For decades it held the distinction of being the southernmost FIA-recognised circuit in the world; in 2023 it was succeeded in that record by the Autodromo Enrique Freile in Argentine Patagonia.
The lap measures 2.570 km and is run in an anticlockwise direction. It features an 800-metre main straight and a high-speed loop section with multiple apexes that flows smoothly through turns 1 to 5. The circuit is exposed to a strong sea breeze that frequently necessitates gearbox and setup changes, adding a variable challenge that drivers must account for. It is widely regarded by competitors as one of the best and safest tracks in New Zealand.
During the golden age of New Zealand motor racing in the 1960s and 1970s, Teretonga hosted many of the world's finest drivers, including Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Chris Amon, and Phil Hill.
On 29 November 1998, Greg Murphy set the outright lap record of 51.206 seconds in a Formula Holden Reynard 92D, at an average speed of 184 km/h, a benchmark that stood as the official track record into 2026.
The New Zealand Grand Prix was first held at Teretonga on 13 January 2002. The race proved a significant addition to the calendar, attracting a record number of entries, and it remained at the circuit for six consecutive years until January 2007.
In February 2008, Teretonga hosted the Leitch Motorsport/Southland Times Speed Fest as part of the Southern Festival of Speed.
Beyond car racing, Teretonga has a broad role in Southland motorsport. The club has been actively involved in the New Zealand Rally Championship since 1981. The regular race programme includes rounds of the local Clubmans Series, South Island Racing Register events, a large Classic Car meeting held each February, sprints, motorkhanas, and motorcycle and drag racing meetings run by visiting clubs.
Teretonga's longevity as an active race circuit, and its distinction as the country's oldest purpose-built venue, make it a foundational site in New Zealand motorsport history. The circuit's extreme southerly latitude and its long association with world-class competition during the Tasman Series era give it a character unique among Australasian tracks.