Stewart Island or Rakiure in
Maori (translated as Glowing Skies) is
New Zealand’s third largest island and lies some 30 km off the coast of Invercargill and across the
Foveaux Strait in the far south of the
South Island. Visitors can get there by ferry from the town of Bluff or fly via helicopter or light aircraft. The island has a population of about 400; most of them live around the settlement of Oban. The island itself was named after William Stewart who explored the area by ship in 1809. With a length of 64 km, width of 40 km and approximately 700 km of pristine coastline,
Stewart Island is rather large and there is much to see and explore. The landscape is rugged as the island is made up of granite rock. Paterson Inlet almost cuts the island in half. This large bay of water is popular for boat-trips and recreational fishing and diving. The forest on nearby
Ulva Island is a shelter for many types of birds like parakeets, bellbirds, kiwis, albatross, petrels, cormorants, blue penguins and gulls. A visit to this island is a must for anyone interested in
native birds and wildlife.