Stewart Island

Stewart Island/Rakiura is a bird lover’s paradise. But even those with a passing fancy will be delighted with a few hours spent on Ulva Island, reached by water taxi from Golden Bay. Rare birds and plants can be safely observed up close, as the island offers a safe haven for flora and fauna having been pest-free since 1997. Birds that tend to struggle on the mainland do well here and so you’ll probably be lucky enough to spot kiwi, saddleback and yellowhead here.

But first you’ll arrive from Bluff into Oban, if you’ve caught the ferry over that is. And in Oban, one must go to the pub. The South Sea Hotel does a fantastic seafood menu. This will also be a good opportunity to have a chat with some of the locals, of which there are only about 400. In the summer months, another delicious option in Oban is Church Hill Restaurant, where seafood also plays a starring role, competing for attention with the views over Halfmoon Bay.

Stewart Island is a great all-season destination because its three-day Rakiura Track, one of the Great Walks, is viable all year. In winter, the island’s weather is cool yet settled. You’ll wander through beautiful native forests with ferns, perching orchids, puawānanga (clematis), and southern rātā on display, a cacophony of birdsong to keep you company. At night you’ll be treated to some spectacular stargazing as the island is the world’s fifth Dark Sky Sanctuary. If you’re lucky, from March to September you might get the chance to witness the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights, which make the night sky glow red and green.