Explore Stewart Island: New Zealand’s Unique Southernmost Destination

Explore Stewart Island: New Zealand’s Unique Southernmost Destination
Natsha
Natsha 
Published
| 8 min read

Stewart Island, or Rakiura as known in Maori, is an island located in the deep south of New Zealand’s South Island. Stewart Island is a real wildlife gem where the bird population outnumbers that of people. Apart from the small town of Oban and neighbouring communities, the rest of the island is covered in lush forest. There are many walking and trekking tracks; some tracks can last a few hours while others take days to complete. It is the only place in New Zealand where kiwis are known to forage during the day, increasing the chances of spotting the elusive iconic bird. Other wildlife include penguins, sea lions and occasional visitors such as albatrosses and leopard seals.

While Stewart Island is mainly associated with wildlife, Oban, the only small town on the island, is very laid back with good restaurants and comfortable accommodations. There are also well-organised eco-tours and fishing trips offered by local tour companies.

Crossing the Strait to Stewart Island

Waves splashing against the ferry during the crossing

Stewart Island Experience offers ferry services to the island from Bluff. If you are getting there by car, there is a paid parking lot next to the ferry terminal in Bluff. Although it is relatively safe, it is best not to leave anything valuable inside the car. If not, there are transfer buses from Queenstown, Te Anau and Invercargill that will drop you off right in front of the ferry terminal. To get to Stewart Island from Bluff by ferry, it takes about an hour. The Foveaux Strait is famous amongst New Zealanders for its rough crossing, strong winds and big waves. It is a good idea to take some travel sickness pills beforehand, even if you are usually not prone to seasickness. Paper bags are provided next to your seats should you need to use them but if you have a strong stomach, the ferry has a small bar at the back that sells various kinds of beverages.

The price of a return ticket is 135.00 NZD or 95.00 USD per adult and 68.00 NZD or 47.88 USD per child. Note that you are only allowed one stowed luggage and one carry-on per person. Additional baggage come with extra costs and you should contact them for more information.

You can also choose to board a mere twenty minutes flight from Invercargill to Stewart Island. Stewart Island Flights is the company that operates flights to and from the island. They also offer charter flights and organised day trips to Stewart Island.

Oban, your gateway to Stewart Island

Beachfront at Oban's centre

When you approach the island, you will see Oban, the island’s main settlement. Although somewhat spread out, Oban is a small township and everything is pretty much within walking distance. Right at the end of the harbour there is Oban Visitors Centre where you can find information on various tours, restaurants and events in the town as well as some souvenirs. For some reason the New Zealand’s Meteorological Service’s website does not give you the information on Stewart Island’s weather forecast. You can inquire for the forecast at the information centre which gets the weather forecast information from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute’s website.

Just less than a minute’s walk, right across the beach is a Four Square supermarket. It has all the necessities as well as an ATM machine. There is also a notice board right next to the supermarket, a great way to catch up to the events on the island.

If you need help with planning some activities or just need some information on the different trekking paths, just head onto the Main Road. There you can find various water taxi operators, guided walks, wildlife cruises and fishing trips. The Department of Conservation’s Office is also located on this road. There you can get information on the island’s wildlife, conservation and the various walking tracks on the island.

For those traveling to Stewart Island by air, there will be a free transport to take you from the island’s airport to Oban’s centre.

There are many lodging options on Stewart Island, from hotels to apartments, youth hostel and private holiday homes. It just depends what your needs are. If you are after accommodation with in-house catering then there is South Sea Hotel which is located right in the middle of Oban, just a mere five minutes walk from the wharf. The hotel has a restaurant and a pub that is frequented by locals.

For those on a budget, there is a backpacker’s lodging. The location is great as it is close to cafés and small restaurants. Not to be missed is the local fish and chips shop, Kai Kart on Ayr Street just a mere minute walk from the beach. The blue cod fish and chips is delicious and not to be missed.

If you want some privacy or are traveling with a group, you might want to check out the apartment option. Rakiura Retreat and Bay Motel both offer apartment and studio accommodations.

Last but not least, for those who want a more personal and want a proper kitchen space, you can book a New Zealand holiday house for your trip. There are many listed properties on the island with additional amenities such as washing machine, fully equipped kitchen and such.

Walking and tramping tracks

A path leads through a native forest.

Stewart Island is a place best enjoyed while doing outdoors activities. With its diverse plant life and well-maintained walking and tramping tracks, there is something for everyone, whether you want to enjoy a few hours walk or go on a few days of tramping. The most popular one is Rakiura Track, a three days tramping track, listed as one of New Zealand’s “Great Walks”. One of its main attraction is the possibility of seeing a Kiwi in the wild.

Oban is surrounded by many scenic walking tracks that lead through native forests and sandy beaches. Observation Rock track is the shortest track from Oban with a high view. This spot is particularly popular during sunset since it gives you a view over Paterson Bay. Then there is Ackers Point Lighthouse track, located to the South East of Oban. This track starts off close to water and gradually ascends up into the woods. At the end when you reach the lighthouse, there is a view point with an expansive view of the Foveaux Strait. Little Blue Penguins and Sooty Shearwaters can also be spotted here during summer. Going the opposite way towards north of Oban, there is the Horseshoe Bay track. On the track there are some climbs up and downhill where you will pass Bathing Beach, a long stretch of sand, before the track slowly ascends into the bushes again. On your walks through the bushes you might hear some Kiwi calls and if you are very lucky you might be able to spot one as Kiwis on Stewart Island are the only ones of their kinds that forage during both night and day.

Ulva Island

A New Zealand sea lion making its way into the ocean.

A trip to Ulva Island is worth a visit. The smaller island is a predator-free zone, unlike the main island where stoats, possums, ferrets and rats as well as deers share the land with native species. Many species of native birds can be found all over the island.

You can choose to have a guided walk or explore the island by yourself. The walk around the island is easy, with very little elevation. Unless you stop to take lots of photographs, you can walk around the island within two hours at an easy pace. However, you should really take your time to enjoy the scenery. If you are bringing your picnic with you, make sure not to leave any crumbs behind. Some birds, such as the persistent Wekas, are not shy and will attempt to steal your food.

At some beaches, you might encounter the New Zealand sea lion. They are endangered and can only be found in New Zealand. It is advised that you keep a distance of ten metres or about 33 feet from the sea lions. Although seemingly docile and cute, they can move very quickly on land and males are territorial. Sometimes they also wander from the beach into the bushy areas nearby as well.

To get to Ulva Island, you can book a trip with a water taxi company such as Aihe Eco Charters & Water Taxi, Seaview Water Taxi and Ulva Island Ferry. The pick up location from Oban is at Golden Bay, a ten minutes uphill walk from Halfmoon Bay.

Kiwi spotting tour

A Kiwi bird spotted feeding on the beach.

If you want to increase your chances of spotting a Kiwi, taking part in a specialised Kiwi spotting tour is recommended. Bravo Adventure Cruises is one of the companies that offer such tours. The tour departs at dusk from Halfmoon Bay. The cruise lasts about 30 to 40 minutes. Once you arrive at the wharf, you will be briefed on the etiquette of the tour. Torches are provided for each guest but once a Kiwi bird is spotted, only the guide is allowed to have his torch on. Kiwis are sensitive to sounds so visitors are asked to avoid making any loud sounds. Photography is allowed but with no flash.

Once everyone is ready, the guide will lead you on a walk towards Ocean Beach where Kiwis usually forage. Walking in a single file through the forest at night is very fascinating, with all the trees, casting different shapes and shadows all around you. The walk takes about 45 minutes. Once at the beach, the search for the Kiwi begins. Walking up and down a beach that is littered with piles of washed up seaweed under the starry sky, waiting for a Kiwi to come out of the bushes to feast on the insects that are feeding on the rotting seaweed and sea lice is certainly an experience to remember. If you shine your torch onto the sand, you will be surprised to see hundreds of the small insects jumping and moving about.

Depending on your luck, you might spot more than one Kiwi, the bird might decide to stay around for a long time or for a brief visit. If you spot a bird that is more used to people, the whole group might be able to get a close look at the bird. While the guided walk lasts about two hours, the whole trip is approximately four hours.

Once back on the boat, you will be served with complimentary warm drinks and biscuits.

The price is 140 NZD or 98.00 USD per person. Note that the minimum age for children on the tour is 15.

If you can you should not miss out on Stewart Island

Although it is rather remote and not easy to get to, it is a once in a lifetime visit that you should not miss. Waking up every morning to a chorus of bird songs is a blessing many people don’t get the chance to experience, nor do most people get to be in a wildlife paradise where many rare species call home. You literally have wildlife at your doorstep, noting the fact that most of the island had never been settled on, giving it the mysterious air of an untouched world. Even if you are not a wildlife enthusiast, Stewart Island is a great getaway for those who love the outdoors, where you can enjoy the pristine nature.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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A bit of a globetrotter, Natsha has spent many years living in a number of different countries. Her love for travelling and photography grew over those years. After finishing a BA in Iceland,...Read more

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