Stewart Island/Rakiura 3-5 day itenerary
Getting There
Rakiura is reached by taking an hour ferry from bluff or a quick scenic 20 minute flight from Invercargill airport. Depending on the itinerary you choose I would recommend doing one way of each.
If you’re going to fly pack light as the plane is small and strict on weight limits!
Accomodation
Food
There isn’t a massive range of options for food, however the South Sea hotel will have your mouth watering any meal of the day! Be sure to try their local salmon and if you love a pub quiz time your trip with a Sunday night.
The Kai Kart shouldn’t be passed up on, you can’t get more kiwi than fish and chips on the waterfront!
Day One
Jump on the morning ferry/flight to make the most of your time on the Island. Most accomodation options will let you store your bags before it’s time to check in so you’ll be able to explore.
Ulva Island
Walk over to golden bay and catch the water taxi over to Ulva Island. I would recommend spending 2-4 hours here to enjoy all the tracks and wildlife you’ll see on the island.
Stop by observation point on your way back from Golden Bay to get incredible views over Paterson’s inlet. This is also a perfect sunset viewing location!
Day Two
Seeing Rakiura by water is an absolute must and by sea kayak is a fun way to do it! There’s a range of options to suit different skill levels and timeframes.
If you’ve still got energy go check out the local museum or head down to bathing beach for a swim.
Day Three
If you’re short on time but want to experience some of the Rakiura Track, catch a water taxi up to Port William and walk back to Oban to enjoy one of the three days of this great walk. If you’re going in the peak summer season (December-January) the water taxi will need to be booked in advanced and costs around $60 NZD
This one day hike takes approximately 4-4.5 hours to get back to Oban. Be sure to pack your togs as there’s plenty of white sand beaches to stop for a dip along the way.
The water taxi leaves early morning (8-9am) so you should have plenty of time to catch the last ferry/flight of the day if you’re only doing a three night stay!
Day Four
To discover more of Rakiura from a unique perspective catch a water taxi up freshwater river to the start of the Masons Bay track, this costs around $60 NZD one way. 15km of walking over reasonably flat terrain will take you through many different environments and your chances of spotting a kiwi will be very high!
Day Five
Depending on your budget after overnighting at the Masons Bay Hut, you can catch a plane from Masons Bay beach back to Invercargill, this option is a little more pricey though! Contact Stewart Island flights to arrange.
The more budget friendly option is to walk back the way you came and catch the water taxi from freshwater river back to Golden Bay. Be sure to check their timings as they can only get up the river on high tide so be sure to leave plenty of time for the walk back.
Once back in Oban you can then arrange to ferry or fly home.
I hope this itenerary helps plan your Rakiura adventures and happy to hear any feedback on how this guide assisted your travels 😊
Cheers
Jamie
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