Stewart Island: Nature, Marine Protection and Island History

Stewart Island/Raikura combines expansive natural landscapes with special opportunities to discover the island and its history. Rakiura National Park covers 157,000 hectares and extends across 85% of Stewart Island/Raikura. There is also the marine reserve near Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara, walking tracks for different travel preferences, and a museum offering varied insights into island life. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, these natural and cultural themes can help you decide which experiences to make the focus of your trip.

Natural Environment and Island Character

With its vast area, Rakiura National Park defines the natural side of Stewart Island. If you enjoy short walks, you can find out more at the Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre; it also has information about multi-day treks. This means there are different options to consider: a short outing or a longer trek for which you’d like to allow more time. The visitor centre also provides information about Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara, making it a useful stop for travellers who would first like an overview of possible nature experiences.

A striking viewpoint is Flagstaff Point Lookout. From there, you can enjoy panoramic views back across Stewart Island/Raikura. The lookout offers a different focus from the tracks through the national park: here, the view of the island takes centre stage. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you’d prefer to explore viewpoints, walking tracks or both kinds of nature experience.

Ulva Island and the Marine Reserve

Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara can be reached by boat from Stewart Island/Raikura via Halfmoon Bay or Golden Bay. The island has well-maintained tracks suitable for all ages and fitness levels. One specific option is the Sydney Cove Track: it is wheelchair accessible as far as the beach. This information applies to this track up to the beach and describes one way to enjoy a visit to the island.

The Ulva Island-Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve is also one of the area’s special natural features. Established in 2004, it covers 1,075 hectares. In crystal-clear waters with fish, penguins and kelp forests, there are opportunities for snorkelling, diving and kayaking. Alongside walking tracks on land, you can also choose activities on and in the water. If you’re planning your trip mainly around experiences like these, you could make Ulva Island a focus of your plans.

Wildlife and Tracks as Excursion Options

Another way to experience nature is at Glory Cove Scenic Reserve. Part of the reserve is a kiwi sanctuary, where visitors have the opportunity to see kiwis in the wild. In Oban, you can hire a water taxi from the jetty at Golden Bay to Glory Cove Scenic Reserve. This describes one specific way to reach the reserve; it does not guarantee a kiwi sighting. When choosing your activities, you can weigh up a visit to the reserve against the tracks and water experiences on Ulva Island.

Island History and Special Status

Rakiura Museum displays exhibits covering many chapters of the island’s history. These include early Māori settlement, muttonbirding, whaling and fishing, as well as timber milling, mining and boatbuilding. Transport, schools and churches are also among the exhibition topics. The museum offers a glimpse into different aspects of life and work on Stewart Island/Raikura. If you’d like to combine nature experiences with a cultural visit, it offers a different way to discover the island than a walk or an excursion to the marine reserve.

On 3 January 2019, Stewart Island/Raikura was accredited as a Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International. This designation is also part of the destination’s distinctive identity. Along with Rakiura National Park, the marine reserve and the historical themes covered by the museum, it offers a broad range of interests to consider when choosing your holiday rental and planning your trip.

Other destinations for your own research: Lumsden, Winton, Niagara, Dipton, Garston, Otautau, Milford Sound and Papatotara.

For the broader travel overview: Southland District.