Stewart Island
The third island of New Zealand is an untouched wilderness off the country’s southern coast. It is dotted with stunning bays, sandy beaches, inlets and thick forest. With clear waters and diverse marine life; tiny Stewart Island remains a largely undiscovered eco-tourism destination.
New Zealand’s newest national park, Rakiura, was established in 2002 and covers 85 per cent of the island. Rakiura – or “The Isle of Glowing Skies” - is a walker’s paradise, offering stunning coastal scenery, rainforests and an amazing array of wildlife. Native birds such as kaka, tui and bellbird provide a melodic dawn chorus. Our national bird, the kiwi, nests all over the island.
The island’s original Maori name is Te Punga o Te Waka a Maui. It means “The Anchor Stone of Maui’s Canoe”, and refers to the ancient legend in which Maui fished up The Great Fish (the North Island) from his South Island canoe.
Visitors to this remote playground can choose between native bush walks with magical seascapes, or a chartered boat cruise out to the region’s famous Bluff oyster grounds to enjoy fishing, diving or kayaking. The lush bush interior also boasts plentiful hunting adventures.