Stewart Island Escape

Your Holiday Package Includes:

• 3 nights accommodation at Stewart Island Lodge
  
• Daily breakfast
• Wild Kiwi Encounter
• Stewart Island Village and Bays Tour
• Stewart Island Ulva Island Explorer
• Return ferry transfer, Bluff to Stewart Island

Rate is per person twin share and based on travel 20-23 March 2022

**Single traveller pricing available. Please speak to one of our travel consultants for more details

**Other dates available, seasonal surcharges may apply

Call us to add flights!

Stewart Island Wild Kiwi Encounter

At dusk depart from Stewart Island's Halfmoon Bay in our catamaran for a cruise across Paterson Inlet to Little Glory Cove.  During the cruise pass Ulva Island (a predator-free sanctuary) and learn about Stewart Island's rich history. Once at Little Glory Cove, disembark onto a wharf at the southern part of the peninsula known as The Neck.

The walk, led by your nature guide, is on a well-formed track across the peninsula, through spectacular coastal forest to a secluded sandy beach. 

As dusk sets in and daylight diminishes, venture by torchlight through the native forest with the stars and forest night sounds around you.  The walk will take about 45 minutes one-way and the track emerges on to Ocean Beach.  This wide sandy beach is where kiwi are often found feeding among the grasses and seaweed.

Here in the darkness you will get to see the Southern brown kiwi (Rakiura Tokoeka) - often searching for food.

Afterwards retrace your steps through the forest to Little Glory Wharf for your catamaran ride back to Oban township on Stewart Island.

• Includes a scenic evening cruise across Paterson Inlet
• Experienced nature guide
• Guided walk (approx. 2 hours)
• Complimentary tea & coffee on board
• Small group - 8 per guide, max 16 per night
• Departs: Main Wharf, Oban - Stewart Island (ferry service to Stewart Island is separate to this)
• Departure times: These vary each month, according to dusk times
• Duration: 4 hours (approx.)

Stewart Island Village & Bays Tours

Gain an entertaining insight into New Zealand’s southernmost community, and learn about the history and environment of Stewart Island.

Unspoiled, incredibly beautiful, and steeped in stories, Stewart Island (known as Rakiura – glowing skies - by Maori) is well worth this informative introduction.  Our local guides enjoy sharing their knowledge of the area on this mini-bus tour of the Island. You will have plenty of time to get off the bus for photo stops and short walks.

Highlights include a visit to the gateway to Rakiura National Park at Lee Bay and Observation Rock with its stunning views of Paterson Inlet.

• Departs: Oban Visitor Centre
• Duration: 1hr 30mins

Ulva Island Explorer

Discover Stewart Island from the water on a leisurely cruise of beautiful Paterson Inlet and a guided walk in Ulva Island Wildlife Sanctuary

The cruise will showcase some of Paterson Inlet’s stunning scenery with its hidden coves and unspoilt beaches. You’ll hear fascinating stories of early Maori history and European settlement from your guide as we pass various landmarks. Your guide is passionate about this area, provides informative commentary and is more than happy to answer questions. While on board, keep a look out for fur seals and penguins – we see a lot of them around this area.

Paterson Inlet is home to renowned wildlife sanctuary Ulva Island and we’ll stop there for a 45 minute guided walk. The island is home to weka (native woodhen), bush robins, rare saddlebacks and yellowheads amongst other species. It is also a protected habitat for some of New Zealand’s rarest plant species.  A regular highlight is to encounter an inquisitive weka on the beach. 

For the remainder of the cruise around Paterson Inlet, relax on board our modern catamaran and enjoy the coastal scenery before heading back to base.

• Duration 2 hrs 30 minutes - 3 hrs

Prices listed are per person in Australian/New Zealand Dollars, based on twin occupancy, including all discounts unless otherwise stated. All bookings are subject to availability. Minimum nights stay may apply. Other travel periods may be available. Some block out dates may apply. Rates may alter depending upon the dates requested and surcharges if applicable. Final booking confirmation only provided once payment has been processed. Contact our travel team for more details. Our Vacation Centre reserves the right to withdraw this promotion without notice at any time. Pricing correct as at 17 September 2021.