Wild Kiwi Encounter on Stewart Island
Highlights & inclusions
Highlighted reviews
It was a extraodenary guided tour! I would book it any time again.
Stunning evening under the stars. Great hosts. The kiwi were a bonus to a fantastic excursion.
What you can expect
Just 40 kilometres south of New Zealand's South Island, the amazing Stewart Island is an unforgettable wildlife haven home to a diverse range of native birds including the southern brown kiwi. On the Wild Kiwi Encounter with Stewart Island Experience, a small-group cruise and guided walk to Little Glory Cove will allow you to experience the tranquillity of this beautiful island while also contributing to the Stewart Island Rakiura Community and Environment Trust.
During your informative evening cruise of Paterson Inlet, you will learn about Stewart Island's rich history and the modern-day paua and oyster industries en route past the predator-free Ulva Island. Your friendly guide will then lead you on a 45 minute walk through amazingly tall native forests and along stunning coastline to Ocean Beach. As dusk falls and you continue by torchlight, the track leads to a wide sandy beach which often provides the perfect feeding ground for the southern brown kiwi. Little Glory Cove is well known for being one of the best areas to see the elusive kiwi in its natural habitat.
The Wild Kiwi Encounter offers the chance to learn about native flora and fauna, how the local residents are preserving the abundant bird population as well as the unique cultural and natural heritage of Stewart Island. As an evening tour, make sure you have accommodation booked for the night on Stewart Island.
Ferries depart to Stewart Island daily from Bluff.
Location
What you need to know
- Scenic evening cruise across Paterson Inlet
- Guided walking tour (45 minutes each way)
- Experienced nature guide
- Torch
- Complimentary tea & coffee onboard the cruise
- Please allow 4 hours (up to 2 hrs walking)
- Departs between 5:00pm & 8:30pm (varies seasonally)
- Departs from Stewart Island Experience, Main Wharf, Oban, Stewart Island
- Operates in summer only (Oct-Apr)
- Can you take the ferry back to Bluff on same night after the Wild Kiwi Encounter on Stewart Island? Unfortunately, it's not possible to do the Wild Kiwi encounter and head back from Stewart Island to Bluff on the same night. The last ferry leaves well before this tour finishes.
- Are there places to sit down during the guided walk? Yes, there are places to sit down and rest during the 2 hour Wild Kiwi Encounter on Stewart Island.
- Stewart Island is a 1 hour ferry ride from Bluff at the bottom of the south island of New Zealand. You will need to book your Stewart Island ferry in order to participate in this activity
- Please note; there are no ferries returning to Bluff (mainland) after the conclusion of this activity so you will need to have organised accommodation on Stewart Island for the night
- Departure time varies according to daylight hours
- Suitable for adults & older children (15yrs+)
- No child rates available
- Reasonable level of fitness required for 2 hours walking over often muddy & uneven terrain
- Please bring: walking shoes/boots, waterproof jacket (soft, quiet option where possible), warm layers, insect repellent, camera
- No flash photography allowed around kiwis
- Stewart Island Experience contribute to the Stewart Island Rakiura Community & Environment Tru
- Change your booking up to 24 hours before the start time of your experience
- Changes are not permitted within 24 hours of your experience
- Late arrivals or no shows may result in you forfeiting your experience
Recent reviews
It was a extraodenary guided tour! I would book it any time again.
Stunning evening under the stars. Great hosts. The kiwi were a bonus to a fantastic excursion.
Fantastic trip, staff and experience.
Need help?
- Email us at plan@everythingnewzealand.com
- Product ID: 26681
- This experience is supplied by Stewart Island Ferry
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