Stewart Island Tour - Ulva Island

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Experience Ulva Island with a guided tour. Begin with a scenic sea cruise through Paterson Inlet, taking in the inlet’s wildlife and landmarks, then explore the predator-free sanctuary on a 1.5-hour guided walk with knowledgeable guides. Spot rare native birds such as saddlebacks (tīeke), yellowheads (mohua), Stewart Island robins (toutouwai), parakeets (kākāriki), and kākās, wander lush forests of rimu, rātā, and kamahi, stroll along sandy beaches, and learn how ongoing conservation and restoration efforts have brought this unique habitat back to life.

Take a return sea cruise around Stewart Island’s shores and through some of Paterson Inlet
Hear stories about significant locations and historical moments from your nature guide aboard the boat
Head out on an approximately 1.5 hour guided walk through native forest and sandy beaches.
Learn about rare native birds and their calls from your guide. Listen and look out for spectacular wildlife
Picnic lunches are available to pre-order before 12pm the day prior
Small group size

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Departure location

The Ulva Island Explorer departs from the Stewart island wharf in Oban.

What's included

Cruise of Paterson Inlet
1.5 hour guided walk on Ulva Island Wildlife Sanctuary
On-board nature guide

What to bring

Non-slip shoes or boots
Waterproof jacket
Warm sweater or fleece jacket
Sunscreen/ sunglasses
Insect repellent
Camera
Personal medication (including for asthma and allergies)

Picnic lunches

Price: $38pp- Must be pre-ordered prior to 12pm the day before travel.

Includes: a sandwich, fresh fruit, brownie or muffin and dried fruits (raisins, berries, etc.).

Please note: If you require a vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free or vegan lunch, please add this into the comments box during the booking process. Menus are indicative only.

Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara

The island sanctuary is located within Paterson Inlet (Whaka a Te Wera) and offers the opportunity to view rarer native species including weka, kākā, kākāriki, tūī, bellbirds (korimako), pigeons (kereru), fantails (piwakawaka), tomtit (miromiro) and brown creeper (pīpipi).

The saddleback (tieke), yellowhead (mohua), Stewart Island robin (toutouwai) and rifleman (titipounamu) have all been successfully reintroduced to Ulva Island.

Some lucky visitors to the sanctuary have also seen the Stewart Island brown kiwi (tokoeka) during the day.

Ulva Island is part of the Rakiura National Park and covers an approximate 269 hectares which are mostly managed by the Department of Conservation.

The island, which has no permanent human population, is supported by the Ulva Island Charitable Trust, a group of Stewart Islanders, who raise funds for research, maintain the tracks and infrastructure, and help with bird releases.

The rainforest on Ulva Island consists of rimu, southern rātā and kamahi, and also diverse varieties of broadleaf and ferns.

Ulva Island has easy walking tracks and is an aspiring place to visit for anyone interested in native birds or plants.

An epic Stewart Island Experience! 21 January 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Ulva Island Explorer was fantastic. Our guide Charles, was incredibly knowledgeable and clearly so passionate about the natural world. His insights into the native birdlife and ecosystems made the walk feel like a special privilege. The sights and sounds of Ulva Island were stunning, and Charles helped us see and understand so much more than we ever expected.

Both tours were well organised, relaxed yet informative, and truly showcased the best of Stewart Island. We couldn’t recommend these experiences highly enough. Five stars all the way!
Lorraine, via Trip Advisor

Great nature experience 24 January 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It was great. We got to see a bunch of animals and even saw two sealions on the beach. Amazing to see the nature here. Very much recommended.
Frank V, Via Trip Advisor

Great half day out 15 January 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nice half day trip out with Jan/Jen. We saw some rare birds on this trip. Jan was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Apparently there are Kiwis as well on the island but they are more on the Boulder beach area that we didn't visit.
Ciaobella77, via Trip Advisor

Learnt a lot on the birds trees and fauna and flora 13 December 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Very good informative trip staff great fun and friendly boat trip was very interesting learning about the history of the island.
Bernie N, Via Trip Advisor

Great guided walk 22 November 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We had a great guided nature walk on the Ulva island, Annalise was a passionate and knowledgable guide and we were able to see many wonderful birds with her.
Anna P, via Trip Advisor

Don’t miss this tour birds plants and scenery is stunning 6 November 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amalie’s and Natasha took us across to Ulva and both were incredibly professional and knowledgeable. On the island component we were confronted with a large male seal and Analiese chose to do a detour rather than take any risk. We saw and heard so many birds and plants and received so much information the time just flew …. Plus it was just an absolutely stunning day weather wise.
DayTrip28570175073, Via TripAdvisor

In case you haven't found the information you were looking for, we've put together some of the most common questions our customers ask about our trips. If you need more specific answers, please contact us directly.

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What time do we need to check in?

For visitors travelling on the Stewart Island Ferry Service, you are required to check in 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time (to allow for luggage loading, etc). The check in and boarding gates are closed 10 minutes prior to scheduled ferry departure. For all our cruises and tours, check in is required 20 minutes prior to the schedule departure.

What sort of birds will we see on Ulva Island?

The bird life on Ulva Island and Stewart Island is of exceptional interest, not only because of the presence of high profile species such as weka, wood pigeon, Stewart Island Robin and kaka, but also because Stewart Island and its small outliers provide a refuge for a range of less well-known birds, among them the NZ dotterel, South Island saddleback, Rifleman, Oystercatcher and the red and yellow-crowned parakeet.

What other activities and sightseeing are available?

There are a huge range of activities available on Stewart Island, from kayaking, fishing trips, golf, walking tracks and more. To find out more information and to make bookings, we operate the Oban Visitor Centre. The Department of Conservation (DoC) also operates a Visitor Information Centre and can provide more information on walking tracks and activities.

Is Stewart Island worthwhile for a day trip?

Yes, there are many activities you can fit into one day on Stewart Island. Ask our reservations team for suggested itineraries.

Online transactions/prices are conducted in what currency?

All prices and transactions on the RealNZ website are in New Zealand dollars (NZD). This is specified on the Terms & Conditions page.

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Ulva Island Explorer

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