Is it worth going to Stewart Island?

You must visit Stewart Island. Flanked by wild waves and even wilder weather, Stewart Island is wild, beautiful and offers a rare glimpse of a truly untouched NZ. With its rugged peaks, dense bush, vast beaches and fascinating history, you’ll leave here with your eyes wide open and your heart full.

How many days do you need on Stewart Island?

I suggest two nights on the Island. The idea is to have a holiday and take your time, walk slowly, smell the air, hear the birds and relax. Fit in the Ulva island trip, it is a easy slow walk, even in the rain. 4.

Why do people visit Stewart Island?

Our island offers a special experience – a glimpse into a simpler, slower lifestyle, in rhythm with the sea and the tides, attuned to the natural world of bush and beach.

When should I go to Stewart Island?

You might find that the best time to visit Stewart Island is during the off season from May through October, when the summer crowds have died down but the weather is often calmer and quieter. While there is a chill in the air, it never really snows here.

How much does it cost to go to Stewart Island?

Does Stewart Island have Internet?

Internet services are available at the Stewart Island Community Library (during open hours). There is a free Wi-Fi Hot Spot on Ayr Street around the Community Centre to Elgin Terrace. A pay-as-you-go Wi-Fi connection can be purchased at the South Seas Hotel.

Can you see the Southern Lights from Stewart Island?

Stewart island is a great place to see the Southern Lights. Stewart Island is a great place to see the Aurora Australis, the best months being March to September. With clear skies and no light pollution the chances of getting some amazing shots are good!

Can I live on Stewart Island?

Stewart Island/Rakiura is sparsely populated and its economy is dependent on summer tourism and fishing. Its permanent population was recorded at 408 people as of the 2018 census, most of whom live in the settlement of Oban on the eastern side of the island.

Can you drink the water on Stewart Island?

Drinking water

While there have been no reports of giardia on Stewart Island, we recommend treating all water collected from streams, or filling your water containers before leaving huts. Help keep our water free from diseases and our land unspoilt by always using toilets where provided.

Is there a hospital on Stewart Island?

Stewart Island Health Centre is a Nurse Led Clinic. Clinic hours are 10am – 12.30pm daily. The Rural Nurse Specialist Nurses are on call 24 hours, 7 days a week to respond to 111 emergencies. … FOR ALL EMERGENCIES CALL 111.

How do you get around on Stewart Island?

A shuttle/minibus operates around the island like a taxi service, and you can rent cars (NZ$65 for a half-day), mountain bikes (NZ$36 a day), and scooters (NZ$45 per 2 hr.), from both the Stewart Island Visitor Terminal, on the wharf (tel.

Can you see penguins on Stewart Island?

Stewart Island is a haven for brown kiwi or Tokoeka, which outnumber humans on the island and are active day and night. Blue penguins and the rare yellow-eyed penguins waddle among the rocks. Offshore on Ulva Island, you’ll find a predator-free bird sanctuary with dozens of native species.

Can you take car to Stewart Island?

Can I take my car to Stewart Island? No, we only carry passengers and light freight on the ferry services between Bluff and Stewart Island. Rental cars and motor scooters are available for hire from our Oban Visitor Centre.

How long is the ferry trip to Stewart Island?

The ferry crossing takes approximately one hour, flights take approximately 15-20 minutes. With daily direct flights into Invercargill from Wellington and Christchurch, connecting flights from Auckland, and scenic flights from Queenstown, getting to Stewart Island couldn’t be easier.

Can you fly to Stewart Island?

Flying is the best option to access Stewart Island and Stewart Island Flights also operate regular scenic flights and transport to magnificent Mason Bay, Ulva Island and other hiking track access points.

Are dogs allowed on Stewart Island?

A dog may be walked and exercised on public conservation land only in permitted areas and when on a lead. These permitted areas have not yet been established within the Stewart Island/Rakiura CMS area. … Dogs may only be taken into national parks for a specific purpose.

Is there cell phone coverage in Stewart Island?

Stewart Island

Sure, there is wi-fi and mobile coverage in the main township of Oban, but make your way out into the national park – which is 85 per cent of the island – and your best bet of communication is a homing pigeon. Or officially, a mountain radio.

How does Stewart Island get its power?

SIESA’s network is powered by five diesel generators at a central power station and the power is delivered by 30km of overhead lines, 10km of underground cables and 35 distribution transformers.

Does it snow on Stewart Island?

Snow falls on our mountains each year, but very rarely at sea level. Frosts are experienced in late autumn, winter, early spring. The average yearly rainfall is 1600 mm – 1800 mm (60 – 70 inches) in Oban Village but higher further west and south.

Can you see the aurora australis with your eyes?

The Southern Lights rarely seem colourful to the naked eye. This is because humans struggle to see colours at night. Instead, they might look like a white or grey glow shifting and transforming on the horizon. But this doesn’t mean the colours are not there, with a camera, you can capture their true beauty.

What time of year is best to see aurora australis?

Unlike Aurora Borealis, which is subject to extreme seasonal light changes, the Southern Lights can be viewed all year round – although most commonly during winter, May to August, and during the spring equinox in September.

What is Arora?

The Arora is a community of Punjab, comprising both Hindus and Sikhs. The name is derived from their native place Aror. Historically, the Arora section of the Khatri community had been principally found in West Punjab, in the districts to the south and west of Lahore.

Who lives on Stewart Island?

Maori have only ever lived on Stewart Island sporadically, while European whalers, sealers, farmers and saw-millers have seen their industries die out pretty quickly. The current population is officially 381, and it has never really crept much higher than that.

What shops are on Stewart Island?

How do you get to Oban Stewart Island?

To get to Oban, the only township on Stewart Island/Rakiura, you can take a 20-minute flight from Invercargill or a 1-hour ferry trip across Foveaux Strait from the southern port of Bluff. In Oban you’ll find accommodation, supplies, equipment hire and transport to and from the start of the track.

What district is Invercargill in?

To get to Oban, the only township on Stewart Island/Rakiura, you can take a 20-minute flight from Invercargill or a 1-hour ferry trip across Foveaux Strait from the southern port of Bluff. In Oban you’ll find accommodation, supplies, equipment hire and transport to and from the start of the track.

What can we do on Stewart Island?

Can I take my bike to Stewart Island?

Explore picturesque Stewart Island in style on our Eco-friendly electric bikes. You can travel at your own pace around our 30 km of roads, stop and see the amazing scenery and wildlife, and go to places you never would have explored before.

What should I bring to Stewart Island?

Why is Stewart Island called Stewart Island?

Rakiura, the island’s Māori name, means ‘glowing skies’, a reference to the southern lights, aurora australis, which can sometimes be seen from the island. The English name, Stewart Island, is in honour of William Stewart, first mate on the sealer Pegasus, who charted Port Pegasus in 1809.

What birds are on Stewart Island?

Birds, which are often seen on Stewart Island and Ulva Island, include bellbird, tui, kaka, tomtit, grey warbler, kakariki and the New Zealand wood pigeon. Some of our birds are unique to the region and include the weka, robin and fernbird.

What size is Stewart Island?

Birds, which are often seen on Stewart Island and Ulva Island, include bellbird, tui, kaka, tomtit, grey warbler, kakariki and the New Zealand wood pigeon. Some of our birds are unique to the region and include the weka, robin and fernbird.

Why is Stewart Island called Oban?

Oban is the only town on Stewart Island, the southernmost and smallest island of the three main islands of New Zealand. … Due to the strong influence of Scottish settlers had on early colonial southern New Zealand, Oban was named after Oban in Scotland (meaning “The Little Bay” in Scottish Gaelic).

How much is the ferry from Invercargill to Stewart Island?

Can you take a campervan to Stewart Island?

Crossing the Foveaux Strait

The journey to Stewart Island is an experience in itself. Only foot passengers can make the journey, so you’ll have to park up the campervan in Bluff for a few days before you begin your crossing.

What plane flies to Stewart Island?

Cessna 185

It is the aircraft of choice for many charters, sightseeing and photography tours.

How many ferries go to Stewart Island?

Stewart Island Experience have four daily sailings heading to the country’s southernmost inhabited island settlement, Oban, from the port with journey duration taking just an hour.

How do I get from Dunedin to Stewart Island?

There is no direct connection from Dunedin to Stewart Island. However, you can take the bus to Invercargill, take the drive to Bluff, take the ferry to Stewart Island, then take the travel to Stewart Island.

Can you have cats on Stewart Island?

Oban, Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island. Cats and dogs will not be banned on Stewart Island but cats will need to be desexed and live inside, a member of a group proposing a multi-million dollar predator-free island plan says.

Are there cats on Stewart Island?

Feral cats are the largest mammalian predators on Stewart Island and three introduced species of ratsфPacific rats Rattus exulans, Norway rats R. norvegicus, and ship rats R.

Are you allowed dogs at Curio Bay?

An amendment to the Southland District Council’s dog control bylaw means dogs will no longer be allowed in some parts of Southland. Trust secretary Greta Buckingham said the trust recommended the amendment included banning dogs on the entire Curio Bay Reserve. …

Is 2G available in NZ?

Once Vodafone and 2degrees’ 2G voice networks close it will not be possible to use a 2G mobile phone with any New Zealand Sim card, meaning they will become useless. … Although they are little use for surfing the internet, 2G phones are adequate for making calls and sending and receiving text messages.

Which mobile network is best in NZ?

Can a new SIM card improve signal?

So, it’s advisable to take out your SIM card clean it and put it back. This can help improve the signal strength. … So, getting a new SIM card from service provider can fix the problem.

How many days a year does it rain in Stewart Island?

In winter, the average temperature hovers around 10 °C, whereas in summer, it stays around 16.5 ° C. Annual rainfall is not high near the coast (1600 mm rising to 3000 mm in the hills) but is distributed relatively throughout the year, with heavy rain for almost 200- 250 days.

Is Stewart Island a volcano?

The geological structure of Rakiura National Park is primarily of very ancient volcanic origin with granite rocks underlying much of the Island. The Island is split roughly into two sections, northern and southern, separated by Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera and the Rakeahua Valley.

What is the coldest place in New Zealand?

Ophir, in the south of New Zealand, is a tiny town which held the record for the country’s lowest temperature. On July 3rd, 1995, a low of -21.6C broke the previous record, also held by Ophir (since then the records have been revised – see update below).

Are there southern lights?

Yes, there are southern lights. The aurora australis occurs around the southern magnetic pole, much as the aurora borealis (northern lights) occurs around the northern magnetic pole.

Can you see the southern lights from Argentina?

As the southernmost city in the world on the coastal tip of Argentina, Ushuaia is the premier southern lights destination in South America. And although the dark winter days may sound dreary, they’re ideal for seeing celestial lights, as Ushuaia gets 17 hours of darkness per day during the winter months.

Can you see the southern lights from Tasmania?

That said, the Southern Lights can be seen year round from Tasmania. No one knows precisely when a light show may occur. Space weather maps and predictions are helpful, but ultimately the sun decides. The Aurora Australis Tasmania Facebook page is a great way to keep up with real-time sightings.

Can you see Northern Lights in Antarctica?

Best Places to See Northern Lights

This auroral zone covers Central and northern Alaska and Canada, Greenland, northern Scandinavia and Russia in the Northern Hemisphere, and Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere. In the south, auroras can sometimes be seen from southern Australia, New Zealand, and Chile.

Are the southern lights in Antarctica?

Called the southern lights, or aurora australis, it’s the southern cousin to the aurora borealis and can best be seen from the most southern of landmasses, such as Tasmania, New Zealand and Antarctica.

Can you see the southern lights in South Africa?

Generally, it is not possible to see the southern lights from South Africa, despite it being the southernmost country on the African continent.