Stewart Island Tours & Activities

Stewart Island, known to Maori as Rakiura, sits across Foveaux Strait south of Bluff, New Zealand's third largest island and one of its last true wilderness destinations. Our Stewart Island tours and activities cover getting there, wild kiwi encounters, bird sanctuary walks and full day combo trips around Oban and the surrounding bays.

Getting to Stewart Island: Ferry or Helicopter

Most visitors cross on the Stewart Island Ferry or Stewart Island Ferry to Bluff, a scenic one hour trip across Foveaux Strait. For a faster and more scenic option, the Stewart Island Helicopter One Way or Return from Bluff covers the same crossing in as little as 20 minutes, with panoramic views over the strait and coastline few visitors see any other way.

Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary

The Ulva Island Guided Walk departs Golden Bay Wharf by water taxi across Paterson Inlet to a predator free bird sanctuary, where the Stewart Island robin, kakariki, saddleback and mohua are all regularly seen and heard at close range.

Wild Kiwi and Guided Wilderness Walks

The Stewart Island Wild Kiwi Encounters tour combines a small group cruise with a guided walk to Little Glory Cove, one of the more reliable places in the country to see the southern brown kiwi in the wild, while the Stewart Island Guided Wilderness Walk explores the island's native bush on foot with a local guide.

Village, Bays and Full Day Combos

The Village and Bays Trips Stewart Island tours Oban, New Zealand's southernmost township, and its surrounding bays by minibus, and the Rakiura For a Day package bundles the ferry crossing with island activities for visitors who only have a single day to explore.

History on the Water

For a look at the island's past, the Guided Boat Tour of the Historic Whalers Base visits the site once used by Norwegian whaling ships in Paterson Inlet, and the Paterson Inlet Cruise explores the same sheltered waterway at a more relaxed pace. Browse the full Stewart Island boat tours range for water taxi options onto the Rakiura Track.

Why Book Your Stewart Island Tour with Everything New Zealand

We are your local travel partner across Rakiura, not the operator, so we only list tours and activities we would genuinely recommend to family and friends. Compare ferries, helicopters, bird sanctuary walks and full day combos side by side, book online in a few minutes and get instant confirmation. Less scrolling, more strolling, straight onto the island.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to get to Stewart Island? The Stewart Island Helicopter One Way or Return from Bluff crosses Foveaux Strait in as little as 20 minutes, faster than the one hour ferry crossing.

What birds can I see on Ulva Island? Ulva Island is predator free and home to the Stewart Island robin, kakariki, saddleback and mohua, all visited on a guided walk from Golden Bay Wharf.

Is Stewart Island a good place to see kiwi in the wild? Yes, the Stewart Island Wild Kiwi Encounters tour is one of the more reliable ways in New Zealand to see the southern brown kiwi in its natural habitat.

What is there to do in Oban, Stewart Island's main township? The Village and Bays Trips tour covers Oban, New Zealand's southernmost community, and its surrounding bays by minibus.

Is there a whaling history on Stewart Island? Yes, Paterson Inlet was once used as a base by Norwegian whaling ships, a history explored on the Guided Boat Tour of the Historic Whalers Base.