Rakiura, Stewart Island

Stewart Island is New Zealand’s wild heart, untamed, remote, and breathtakingly beautiful. Accessible by regular ferry from Bluff to Oban, the island feels a world apart yet is easy to reach and a must-visit for anyone exploring Aotearoa.

Covered in dense forest with rolling hills, sandy beaches, and rocky coastlines, Rakiura is a haven for native marine and birdlife, making it ideal for nature lovers.

Travel via a short coach ride from Invercargill to Bluff, then hop on the ferry to Oban. Explore the island on a day trip with experiences scheduled around the ferry services, or stay longer to immerse yourself more fully. Cruise to Ulva Island, a bird sanctuary filled with rare native species; take a Village and Bays Tour with knowledgeable guides sharing regional stories; or join a guided walk at Oneke, “The Neck,” to discover native bush, coastal landscapes, and Rakiura Māori cultural history. Extend your visit with a Wild Kiwi Encounter for the opportunity to view Rakiura tokoeka (Stewart Island Brown kiwi) in their natural habitat.

Overview

Picturesque Stewart Island is well off the beaten track but just 30 km (19 miles) from the southern tip of New Zealand’s South Island. Most of the island is part of the Rakiura National Park, with settlement mainly confined to Oban, the only township.

The island’s densely forested hills, tiny population, the untouched coastline of rocky outcrops, and golden sand beaches make it a natural refuge for marine and bird life and an excellent destination for people who value nature and wild places.

We’ll get you there with coach transfers from Invercargill and daily ferry services between Bluff and Stewart Island.

Once on the island, join us for a range of land and water-based experiences. Enjoy a leisurely cruise of beautiful Paterson Inlet and Ulva Island, or explore the island on our Village and Bays Tours. Alternatively, you can travel independently with our rental cars or bikes.

Getting to Stewart Island

Stewart Island is a relatively undiscovered tourism destination far off the beaten track. Despite seeming remote, it is in fact, highly accessible.

Just an hour by ferry from Bluff or 20 minutes by air from Invercargill, it’s easily a day trip. Getting to Bluff or Invercargill airport is similarly hassle-free with regular coach connections from other centres.

History

Stewart Island’s rich human heritage dates back to the 13th Century when Maori referred to the Island as Te Punga o te Waka a Maui (the anchor of Maui’s canoe) or Rakiura (land of the glowing skies). Maori visited seasonally, attracted by the delicious titi – the chick of the sooty shearwater.

Captain Cook was the first European to sight the Island in 1770, but they considered it a part of the South Island, so they named it South Cape. In the 1800s, Europeans arrived to exploit the booming seal and whale industries.

Fishing has always provided a source of income for permanent residents, and today, the blue cod and crayfish industries support the island along with farmed salmon and mussels.

Much of the Island has been long set aside as nature reserves, so farming and clear-felling forestry have not destroyed the native forests. Now, 80% of the Island is protected as Rakiura National Park.

A small tourism industry has slowly grown over the last 100 years – the Island is a haven for visitors who love its slow pace and connection with nature.

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Flora and fauna

High rainfall and relatively warm weather makes for dense forestation right across the island. Native plants include the world's southernmost podocarps (southern conifers) and hardwoods such as rata and kamahi in the lowland. A great network of trails makes for fabulous bush walking in pretty much all weather.

Many species of birds on Stewart Island thrive because of the absence of stoats, ferrets, and weasels that man has brought to the main islands. Concerted conservation efforts by the Islanders and New Zealand’s Department of Conservation keep predator numbers down and support threatened species.

The birds of Stewart Island include weka, kaka, albatross, the flightless Stewart Island kiwi, silvereyes, fantails, and kereru (wood pigeon). The endangered Yellow-eyed penguin has many breeding sites here, and there are large colonies of Sooty Shearwaters on the offshore Muttonbird Islands.

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Destinations

Fiordland

Queenstown Lakes

Rakiura Stewart Island

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruises

Experiences

Milford Sound Business Class

Conservation

The Takahe Relocation Project

Specials

RealNZ Combo Deals

Rakiura, Stewart Island

Filter Our Experiences

Stewart Island Wilderness Walk

Stewart Island Ferry Services

Ulva Island Explorer

Stewart Island Wild Kiwi Encounters

Stewart Island Day Trip

Stewart Island Car Rentals

Stewart Island Village & Bays Tours