Stewart Island

Right at the bottom of the South Island, Stewart Island remains one of the most untouched pieces of paradise that New Zealand has to offer. With prolific birdlife, excellent walking tracks and beautiful bays and beaches a holiday in Stewart Island is a nature lover’s dream. This is one part of New Zealand the brown kiwi still lives in relative abundance and it is possible to see this rare bird at night roaming in its natural environment.

A massive 85% of Stewart Island is National Park providing a perfect playground for Stewart Island attractions and activities including kayaking, boating, fishing, diving, bushwalking and wildlife viewing. There is a museum on the island which documents Stewart Island’s history and exhibits remnants of the past, shells and evidence of early Maori settlement. Ulva Island is one of the few predator-free areas left in New Zealand and has an excellent range of easy walking tracks, secluded beaches and peaceful surroundings.

Sea or forest, the scenery is superb and the quiet laid back pace is only broken by the bird calls. Accommodation comes in the form of budget, hosted, hotels, motels, lodges and self-catering homes, cabins and apartments.

Eating and drinking on Stewart Island doesn’t provide a lot of choice, but you will find everything you need here including a café, waterfront hotel restaurant and the interesting option of creating your own gourmet feast delivered to your favourite location. The Stewart Island supermarket has all your last minute needs covered. Lush native forests, uncrowded beaches and prolific wildlife are just some of the reasons to visit Stewart Island, but the magnificent sunrise and sunsets really do tick off a few extra boxes on your itinerary sheet. To get to Stewart Island you can choose from ferry transfers and helicopter flights from Bluff or fixed-wing aircraft from Invercargill or Dunedin.  If you need transportation for a group arriving at the airport in Dunedin we have an article on the ways to get into town.

If you don’t want to take the trip across to Steward Island, have a look at all the other wonderful things you can do in Southland.