Stewart Island/Rakiura

城市概覽

Most of the island is covered in native forest and virtually the entire population of about 400 is concentrated in the township of Oban (also known as Halfmoon Bay) on the east coast. Commercial fishing and tourism are the two main occupations for residents. The main attractions for visitors are hiking (called tramping in New Zealand), birdwatching, fishing and deer hunting. Although Stewart Island looks small on a map next to the South Island, it is large: 64 km long, 40 km across (at its widest point), with a 700-km coastline. But there are only 20 km of roads. You can't walk round the island in a day – even ten days tramping only skirts the northern third. Few people have seen anywhere near the whole of the island. There is much to see, even close to the only settlement of Oban. Come for a daytrip or stay longer, as there is a good range of accommodation. Some visitors from 20 years ago are still living here. The terrain is rugged. Stewart Island is made of granite, some of the oldest rock in New Zealand. A wide range of minerals are present, though not in commercial quantities. Tin was mined at Port Pegasus for a few years in the 1890s. There's black iron sand on some beaches, others are white with quartz or red with garnet. Most beaches are gold, sparkling in the sun. Don't bother bringing a gold pan though: it's all "fool's gold"! Paterson Inlet cuts the Island almost in half. This large expanse of water is popular for boat trips and recreational fishing and diving. The climate is mild, and a bit damp, but without rain, there wouldn't be a rainforest. The eastern lowlands are forest right to the water's edge. A canopy of kamahi is pierced by majestic rimu and miro. Lianes and lush fern growth adorn the bush interior. The forest is a haven for bird-life, as there are fewer predators than on the mainland. Kaka, parakeets, tui, and bellbird give a wonderful dawn chorus in spring. New Zealand's national bird, the kiwi, is found all around the island. Seabirds abou

如何抵達

Getting there requires crossing Foveaux Strait by boat or plane from Southland on the mainland.

By boat Stewart Island Experience runs a scheduled passenger ferry service from Bluff, near Invercargill, to Oban/Half Moon Bay, with 2-4 departures during the day (dependent on time of year). The crossing is 22 nautical miles or 39 km and takes one hour. Adult $125 each way, children (4–14) half-price. Long-stay parking is available at the Bluff terminal. From Invercargill, there's a shuttle that will pick you up from the airport or hotel and bring you to the ferry terminal for an extra $35 (children half-price) each way. Occasionally other boats, usually charter vessels, make the crossing.

By plane 1 Stewart Island Flights makes three 20-minute flights a day from Invercargill Airport. $148 one-way, $256 return for adults, $100 one-way, $166 return for children (4–14), free for infants (under 4, on lap of adults). Amazingly, this is cheaper than a round trip with the ferry and connection shuttles for adults, though it doesn't include pickup at hotels in Invercargill, and there is a 15kg baggage. The same company also operates charter flights to remote areas of Stewart Island.

當地交通

Walk, mostly. All of the 20 kilometres of roads are around Oban/Halfmoon Bay, and the rest of the island is a hiker's wilderness paradise. Bus tour Shuttles, taxi, rental cars, mountain bikes and scooters Ulva Island Ferry between Golden Bay and Ulva Island Water taxi or charter a fishing or tour boat Helicopter 1 Stewart Island Electric Bike Hire, 4 Main Rd. $55 for 3.5 hours. (updated Aug 2020) Aurora Cab Company, ☏ +64 277 227 935. daily 7AM-9PM. Taxis. Eftpos available. (updated Dec 2024) Rakiura charters & water taxi, ☏ +6432191487, toll-free: 0800725487, [email protected]. Tours and water taxi. (updated Jan 2025) Rakiura Herzhoff Water Taxi, ☏ +64 27 28 98 292, [email protected]. Water taxi service. (updated Jan 2025)

必看景點

The museum and Department of Conservation (DoC) in Oban both have excellent displays and are open most days. Stewart Island is one of the best places to view the aurora australis or Southern Lights, unless you fancy an expensive and uncomfortable sojourn in one of the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands. It's not ideally located for this and travellers should not expect a display every night, but the magnetic pole's offset helps, and it's a lot cheaper than taking a boat into Antarctic waters.

1 Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre, 15 Main Rd, ☏ +64 3 219-0009, [email protected]. M-F 8:30AM–4:30PM, Sa Su 10AM–2PM. Department of Conservation (DoC) office in Oban, with a small exhibition and information counter. 2 Rakiura Museum, 11 Main Road, [email protected]. Oct-May: daily 10AM-3PM; Jun-Sep: M-F 10AM-noon, Sa 10AM-1:30PM, Su noon-2PM. Volunteer-run museum with an interesting historical and nature collection, which moved to a new bigger building in 2020. $10. (updated Jan 2021) 3 Moturau Moana Native Gardens. Daylight hours. A park-like area of mostly native garden given to the people by the late Miss Noeline Baker. It is particularly worth visiting if you are not going to explore the native woodland in more detail, and even if you are, the labels on some of the trees may be of interest. Also offers good views looking towards Halfmoon Bay. Free. (updated May 2015) 4 Lee Bay chain sculpture (Te Puka - the anchorstone). Always open. A section of giant anchor chain and some interpretation boards by the beach at Lee Bay. The anchor chain reflects Maori legends that Stewart Island acts as an anchor for the great ancestral canoe Te Waka o Aoraki (the South Island). The chain is at the start of the Rakiura Track. Free. (updated May 2015) 5 Observation Rock (Up the hill across the street from the rugby field). A surprisingly impressive viewpoint close to town, overlooking the southern bays of the Oban area. You can drive to it if you have a vehicle (th

體驗活動

Kiwi spotting Stewart Island is one of the only places in New Zealand where you have a good chance of spotting a fully wild kiwi bird, but they're still not exactly easy to find. They come out only after dark, and are most often spotted at the edges of open areas such as roads or lawns (listening for their calls can help). If you plan to go looking on your own, bring a red light or buy the "Kiwi-spotting kitset" (piece of red cellophane and rubber band) from the Four Square market ($0.50); shining a normal white flashlight at a kiwi may disturb it. You have a decent chance of finding one if you spend a few hours driving the back roads at night, or a few nights poking around on foot on the hiking trails and town rugby field. But your odds are much better if you go with one of the several tour operators (from $100 per person), which can take you their special spots (some go to the town's airstrip, which isn't open to the public). You will sometimes see Ulva Island sanctuary (see below) advertised as "the only place to see wild kiwi