Stewart Island Experience

Stewart Island, also known as Rakiura, is New Zealand's third-largest island, located 30 kilometers south of the South Island, across the Foveaux Strait. It is a roughly triangular island with a total land area of 1,746 km. Its 164-kilometer coastline is deeply creased by Paterson Inlet (east), Port Pegasus (south), and Mason Bay (west) 1. The island's terrain is hilly, and like most of New Zealand, it has an oceanic climate. The north is dominated by the swampy valley of the Freshwater River, w

It is one of a rim of ridges that surround Freshwater Valley.To get to Stewart Island, visitors can take the Stewart Island Experience Ferry from Bluff, which departs daily. Check-in is required 30 minutes before departure, and bookings are essential. Vehicle parking is available adjacent to Bluff Visitor Centre. Alternatively, visitors can take a 12-minute helicopter ride from Bluff to Stewart Island or a 20-minute fixed-winged aircraft from Stewart Island to Invercargill.Once on the island, visitors can explore the 15 kilometers of road on foot, with several well-maintained tracks that take visitors deep into coastal forests searching out kiwis. Visitors can also take a jet boat tour to explore New Zealand rivers and lakes.For those who want to spend more time on the island, Terranova Tours offers a four-day Stewart Island Explorer package that includes a ferry ride from Bluff to Stewart Island on an express catamaran.Overall, Stewart Island offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore New Zealand's natural beauty and wildlife.