Three people walking through dense native forest on Oneke Island.

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Oneke

Oneke, "The Neck," is tūrangawaewae for Rakiura Māori, a place to stand, belong, and connect. This remote headland sits between Paterson Inlet and Foveaux Strait, reached by boat to a dedicated coastal wharf.

Oneke has been home to early Māori settlement and remains central to Rakiura Māori identity, shaped by whānau and shared whakapapa.

A guided wilderness walk crosses coastal and bush trails. Your guide shares the history of the place, Māori and European, along with traditional plant use and ongoing conservation through kaitiakitanga. The journey begins with a formal whakatau, acknowledging the land and its people, and includes a short return sea cruise to the coastal wharf. Departures are seasonal and weather dependent, run in small groups, with time to take in the land and its stories.