Stewart Island
New Zealand's third largest Island, Stewart island or Rakiura is the southern most island out of the main three. Unspoiled due to isolation it is separated from the South Island by 24 km's of ocean called the Foveaux Straight.
It is often thought of as having a harsh and wild climate with only the hardest of characters living in this last frontier. While the weather can be unpleasant (it rains 275 days in a year!), Halfmoon Bay/Oban where the majority of the 400 people live is somewhat shelter from the Roaring Forties (winds at 40°S) that rip through this area.
Although small in population, the island itself is fairly large at 1,680 sq km and has approximately 750 km of coastline. Almost the entire island is covered in native bush with half the island covered in podocarp/hardwood forest and the remaining a mixture of low forest, grassland, wetland, alpine herbfield/ cushionfield, and coastal or dune land communities (source: DOC), there are no beech forests on Stewart Island.
If you plan to come to New Zealand bird watching, Stewart Island is the place to be with healthy populations of kiwi, parakeet, kereru, tui, bellbird, tomtit, weka, robin, fernbird and kaka. Stewart Island was also the last stronghold of the kakapo (largest parrot in the world, flightless) and the remaining population of 60 were relocated to the predator free Codfish Island (island off Stewart Island, access by permit only).
Getting there
Stewart Island Flights depart from Invercargill to Stewart Island several times a day Ph 3-218 9129
Foveaux Express runs a ferry service between Bluff and Stewart Island and also offer car storage - The waters between Bluff and Stewart island can get treacherous and several people on our ferry got seasick.
Things to do
There are plenty of charter boat tours, kiwi spotting tours and day walks. Ulva Island is popular as it is a bird sanctuary open to the public, several water taxi's depart from Stewart Island to Ulva Island return starting at about $60.
For the more adventurous there are 3 main hikes you can do. The Rakiura Track is a 3 day Department of Conservation Great Walk. The Southern Circuit is a 4 day track that is remote and requires a high level of fitness and experience. The Northwest Circuit is a massive 120 km track that takes between 8 - 10 days.
Accommodation
Shearwater Inn - the largest hostel in Stewart Island and closest to town offers dorms, doubles, singles and camping.
Inns Backpackers - P.O. Box 32, Stewart Island, Phone/Fax 64-3-219 1080
Jo & Andy's Bed & Breakfast - P.O. Box 46, Stewart Island, Phone/Fax 64-3-219 1230
Other options
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