Rakiura in a Day – Birds and Bays

Yes, day and overnight vehicle parking is located adjacent to the Bluff Visitor Terminal (extra cost) for visitors taking the ferry to Stewart Island.  Parking is available for cars, campervans, bicycles, motorcycles, boat trailers and coaches.  This is an airport-style parking facility, so you collect a ticket on entry and pay when you leave.  Vehicle parking cannot be booked in advance.

Yes, we offer coach transfers between Invercargill and Bluff (extra cost). The Invercargill – Bluff coach service operates for each ferry departure and arrival. Pick-ups and drop-offs are available from several Invercargill accommodation properties, the Airport, and from the city centre outside Tuatara Backpackers.

At present, we are unable to offer wheelchair access. Please contact us to discuss your options.

The crossing takes approximately one hour on the Stewart Island Ferry. Departure is from Bluff, on the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island, and the ferry arrives at Oban (Halfmoon Bay) on Stewart Island.

The Foveaux Strait can be rough, particularly in winter. Most crossings are manageable, but if you are prone to motion sickness, take medication before boarding rather than waiting until symptoms start. On calmer days the crossing offers real wildlife viewing opportunities, with seabirds common and occasional marine mammals.

The Birds and Bays experience takes approximately 7 hours and 45 minutes. It begins with the 9:15am Stewart Island Ferry departure from Bluff and returns to Bluff at approximately 5:00pm.

Your picnic lunch will include a hearty sandwich, along with a selection of snacks, fruit and water.

A typical picnic lunch may include:

• Sandwich
• Bottled water
• Weka Bar
• Chocolate brownie
• Annie’s Fruit Bar
• Cranberry Frooze Balls
• Fresh fruit

Please let us know about any dietary requirements when booking so we can provide any necessary alternatives.

Please note: Picnic lunch items may vary depending on availability, so the selection on the day may differ from the items listed above.

There is some free time in Oban between the Village & Bays Tour and the Ulva Island Explorer. This is the time for guests to enjoy your included picnic lunch before continuing with the afternoon’s activities.

The weather on Rakiura can sometimes be changeable and unpredictable, therefore please ensure you wear adequate footwear and are dressed for warmth including a wind and waterproof jacket.

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.

Wild kiwi are present on Stewart Island but are not typically spotted on Ulva during daylight hours. For evening kiwi sightings, RealNZ's Stewart Island Wild Kiwi Encounters runs guided beach tours where sighting rates are very high. Book it as an add-on to your Ulva Island day.