Visit Stewart & Ulva Islands, New Zealand

On Stewart Island, the third island of New Zealand, life slows down yet another notch, as the permanent residents who live in the only small town on the island pursue a simpler and quieter lifestyle, attuned to the natural world of sea, native bush and beach.

Stewart Island is the most recent addition to New Zealand’s list of national parks, known as ‘Rakiura’, the land of glowing skies, due to the aurora australis and burning sunsets which so often grace the skies above it.

With just 15 km of road, exploration is more often on foot, with several well maintained tracks that take visitors deep into coastal forest searching out kiwis. Their calls are heard in remote areas and unlike their mainland cousins, the Stewart Island kiwi are active during daylight hours.

They’re easier to see, however, on nearby Ulva Island in Paterson Inlet. Separated from the mainland by the shallow Foveaux Strait, Stewart Island can be reached by boat from Bluff or plane from Invercargill.

Ulva Island

Ulva Island is a ten-minute boat journey from Stewart Island and is managed by the Department of Conservation as an open island sanctuary. Here rats and possums have been totally eradicated to create a perfect haven for the native birdlife.

The island reverberates with the sound of birdsong as walkers and ornithologists carefully tread the well maintained walking paths that stretch all over the island.

Visiting the island offers a rare experience for people to see a variety of wildlife in close proximity, from the Stewart Island robin to Daisy the elephant seal who often basks in the sun on one of the many sandy coves.

Wildlife

As much of Stewart Island is uninhabited and protected, it offers an excellent habitat for native birds such as the bellbird, tui, kaka and of course New Zealand’s iconic kiwi. There are over 30 bird species that make their home in this ideal environment.

On Stewart Island the kiwi, unlike their mainland cousins, are active during daylight hours and their calls can be heard in remote areas throughout the day and night. They are easier to see, however, on nearby Ulva Island, where tours combine a pelagic cruise with a kiwi-spotting walk.

There are five species of penguin which nest in this southern sanctuary, and a trip on the water often includes encounters with dolphins, sea lions, fur seals and even the occasional elephant seal.