Activities in Stewart Island
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Rakiura Charters
Sightseeing and fishing outings on the Rakiura Suzy. Most popular is the half-day fishing cruise including a stop at the historic Whalers’ Base. Multiday diving, fishing and hunting charters, and overnight trips are also available.
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Stewart Island Spa
In a refurbished hilltop cottage, with options including crystal healing, a rainforest bath, and a sauna and massage. Premium organic beauty products are used for all treatments. See Britt at the Kiwi-French Crepery for more information and bookings.
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Ruggedy Range Wilderness Experience
Excellent guide Furhana Ahmad takes small groups on guided walks with an ecofriendly, conservation angle. A very popular excursion is the half-day trip to Ulva Island ($110); one- and two-night expeditions to see kiwi in the wild ($470 to $860) are also available. Ruggedy Range also specialises in the viewing of pelagic seabirds. Guided sea kayaking starts at $95, and you can also buy tramping and camping gear.
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Coast to Coast
Coast to Coast offers adventure-packed days with a flight from Oban and beach landing at Mason Bay, a four-hour tramp and a one-hour boat ride through Paterson Inlet to Golden Bay.
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Day Walks
There are a number of short tramps, ranging from half an hour to seven hours; the majority are easily accessed from Halfmoon Bay. Pick up Day Walks ($2) from DOC Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre. The walk to Observation Rock (30 minutes return) has good views over Paterson Inlet. Continue past the old stone house at Harrold Bay to Acker’s Point Lighthouse (three hours return), for good views of Foveaux Strait and the chance to see blue penguins and a colony of titi.
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Bravo Adventure Cruises
To see a kiwi in the wild, Bravo Adventure Cruises runs twilight tours ($140). In order to protect the kiwi, numbers are limited so make sure you book well ahead. Kiwi-spotting is also available with Ruggedy Range Wilderness Experience.
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Ulva’s Guided Walks
Excellent three- to five-hour tours costing from $120 to $150 (transport included). Options include Ulva Island and Port William, a historic Maori and sealing site. Book at the Fernery. If you're a mad-keen twitcher, see the website for the Birding Bonanza trip ($400) taking in everything avian.
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Stewart Island Experience
Runs 2½-hour Paterson Inlet cruises (adult/child $85/22) via Ulva Island; 1½-hour minibus tours of Oban and the surrounding bays ($45/22); and 45-minute semisubmersible cruises ($85/42.50).
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Rakiura Track
The 30km, three-day Rakiura Track is a well-defined, easy circuit starting and ending at Oban with copious bird life, beaches and lush bush en route. It requires a moderate level of fitness and is suitable for tramping year-round. The entire circuit is 37km in total (including the road sections) and showcases spectacular scenery. The circuit follows the open coast, climbs over a 250m-high forested ridge and traverses the sheltered shores of Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera. It passes sites of historical interest and introduces many of the common sea and forest birds of the island.
The Rakiura Track is one of NZ’s Great Walks and bookings are required all year round to stay…
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Rakiura Kayaks
Paterson Inlet consists of 100 sq km of sheltered, kayak-friendly waterways, with 20 islands, DOC huts and two navigable rivers. A popular trip is a paddle to Freshwater Landing (7km upriver from the inlet) followed by a three- to four-hour walk to Mason Bay to see kiwi in the wild. Rakiura Kayaks rents kayaks (half/full day $50/65) and also run guided paddles around the inlet ($65 to $105).
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North West Circuit Track
Following the northern coast is the North West Circuit Track, a 125km trail taking 10 to 12 days. The 56km four-day Southern Circuit Track branches off the North West Circuit Track. Both tracks are only suitable for fit, well-equipped and experienced trampers. Mud is widespread and often deep and thick on the tracks, regardless of the season. Track times are an indication only, and extra time should be allowed in adverse conditions.
The North West Circuit Pass provides for a night in each of the backcountry huts. A Backcountry Hut Pass can be purchased for use in the huts; however, both the Port William and North Arm huts still need to be booked via the DOC website. The…
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