Stewart Island

The great southland escape

Far from the madding crowd, Stewart Island is a serene ecological wonderland spiced with the promise of adventure, where the pressures of everyday life gently melt away.

Rakiura National Park spans most of the isle’s 157,000 hectares. It features towering emerald-green rainforests, high granite peaks, white sandy shores, and deep inlets and coves.

The park teems with wildlife and has the largest and most diverse bird population in New Zealand, from the vivid plumage of the kaka and parakeet to the melodic warbling of the tui and bellbird.

All of this is surprisingly accessible. Ferries from Bluff leave regularly, taking just one hour to cross Foveaux Strait.

A highlight for many visitors is a rendezvous with a Stewart Island kiwi. They're often spotted by the eagle-eyed in the thick forest or foraging for food on the beach. For those who don’t chance upon one, "spotting tours" offer another chance to see a kiwi up close.

Stewart Island is a paradise for trampers. The three-day Rakiura Track is one of New Zealand's Great Walks and the park offers a range of walks from 10-minute strolls to 12-day adventures.

If all this seems too energetic, you'll find it easy to relax in the small township of Oban. The island's sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, with only the chorus of birdsong to punctuate the peace.

There’s a wide range of tours, cruises and other activities available on and around Stewart Island, to suit all visitors interests – enough to keep you occupied for a day trip or an extended stay.