This full-day trip is the ultimate birding and nature experience on Stewart Island. The morning is spent on Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary. As a predator-free island, the plants and native birds have been able to flourish and a visit to the island is like stepping back in time. The afternoon is spent discovering the pelagic birdlife and wildlife around coastal Stewart Island aboard Aurora Charters' purpose-built charter vessel.
Your team of guides is extremely experienced. Ulva Goodwillie is a Māori Eco/Nature guide who is passionate about and absolutely committed to Ulva Island and its protection. Matt Jones is an experienced and knowledgeable wildlife guide and photographer, and a trustee of the Ulva Island Charitable Trust.
This tour also includes an opportunity to see the elusive and beautiful local kiwis, but due to their susceptibility to weather conditions the exact timing of your visit to watch them is flexible. If the weather is good in the first instance, the kiwi tour will take place on the Monday evening prior to the day trip, departing around sunset and returning at 10pm. If the weather conditions don't permit this the kiwi spotting will take place on the Tuesday evening at a similar time.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our New Zealand specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Ulva Island Tour
Ulva Goodwillie is a Māori Eco/Nature guide who is passionate about, and absolutely committed to, Ulva Island and its protection. As a predator free island, the plants and native birds have been able to flourish as nature originally intended, and a visit to the island is like stepping back in time.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tour below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
