Rakiura Stewart Island is New Zealand’s third-largest island, a place of wild coastlines, native forest and abundant wildlife, where life moves at a slower pace. Around 85% of the island is protected within Rakiura National Park, with walking tracks, secluded beaches and sheltered inlets stretching far beyond the small township of Oban.
Rakiura Stewart Island lies the across Foveaux Strait from Bluff, at the southern tip of New Zealand’s South Island. You cannot drive directly onto the island, but getting there is straightforward by ferry or air.
There is no single best time to visit Stewart Island. Rakiura is a year-round destination, but the experience changes noticeably with the seasons.
Summer (December–February): Summer brings the longest daylight hours and generally warmer conditions, making it a popular time for walking, wildlife experiences and exploring the coast. It is also the busiest period on the island, so book Stewart Island accommodation, ferry travel and experiences in advance.
Autumn (March–May): Early autumn can be an excellent time to visit, with fewer visitors while there is still plenty of daylight for walking and exploring. As the season progresses, days become shorter and some seasonal experiences finish operating.
Winter (June–August): Winter is quiet, atmospheric and well suited to travellers who value solitude and dark skies. Days are shorter and some visitor experiences, including Wild Kiwi Encounters, do not operate through the winter months, so check availability before planning your trip.
Spring (September–November): Spring brings lengthening days, active birdlife and fewer visitors than peak summer. It is a particularly rewarding time for walking and nature-focused trips as seasonal experiences begin operating again.
For more trip-planning inspiration, read our Things to do on Stewart Island Rakiura: the complete activity guide.
Wildlife is one of the biggest reasons to visit Rakiura. Extensive native forest, relatively low human impact and conservation work across the island provide habitat for an exceptional range of native birds and marine species.
Rakiura is one of New Zealand’s best-known places for seeing kiwi in the wild. The island is home to a significant population of tokoeka, or Stewart Island brown kiwi.
Unlike kiwi encounters in enclosed wildlife centres, sightings here can take place in completely wild habitat. Join a guided Rakiura Wild Kiwi Encounter after dark to search for tokoeka as they forage through coastal forest and along the shoreline. Because these are wild animals, sightings can never be guaranteed.
Listen for the calls of South Island kākā in the forest and even around Oban. These large native parrots are curious, intelligent and strong flyers and are one of the island’s most distinctive bird species.
Weka are another common sight around Rakiura. These flightless native birds can be encountered around beaches, tracks and forest margins, although their famously inquisitive nature means visitors should avoid feeding them.
Rakiura's forest is alive with smaller native birds. Tūī, korimako / bellbirds and pīwakawaka / fantails are among the species you may hear or see while walking around the island.
For concentrated birdlife, visit Ulva Island / Te Wharawhara, an open island sanctuary in Paterson Inlet / Whaka a Te Wera. Its predator-free environment provides habitat for species including Kākāriki / Parakeets, South Island saddleback / tīeke, yellowhead / mohua, Stewart Island robin / toutouwai and rifleman / tītitipounamu.
The Ulva Island Explorer combines a cruise across Paterson Inlet with a guided walk through native forest and along the island’s beaches.
Read our complete guide to Stewart Island's native birds and wildlife or discover what to do on Ulva Island before you visit.
Rakiura's coastline and surrounding waters support much more than forest birds. Keep watch for seabirds around Foveaux Strait and Paterson Inlet, while penguins and marine mammals may also be encountered around the wider Stewart Island coastline. Wildlife is wild and sightings vary by location, season and conditions.
