Planning a Trip
Getting There
By Plane -- Air transport to Stewart Island is provided by Stewart Island Flights (tel. 03/218-9129; www.stewartislandflights.com), which is based at Invercargill Airport. You get breathtaking views of the island from the nine-seat Britten-Norman aircraft, which takes approximately 20 minutes to cross Foveaux Strait. Shuttle buses then deliver you to your accommodations in Oban. The fare is around NZ$155 (US$110/£56) round-trip. Stewart Island Flights can also help you plan and book your entire Stewart Island holiday.
By Boat -- The passenger-only ferry, operated by Stewart Island Experience, will have you on Stewart Island in an hour. It departs Bluff ferry terminal September through April from 8:30am until 4pm and from May through August 9:30am to 5pm. There's connecting bus service from Invercargill to Bluff; secure car parking is available near the Bluff ferry terminal. The round-trip fare is NZ$110 (US$78/£40) for adults and NZ$55 (US$39/£20) for children ages 5 to 14. For inquiries and reservations, call tel. 0800/000-511 in NZ, or 03/212-7660; or visit www.stewartislandexperience.co.nz.
Rough Going -- If you're taking the ferry, it is important to remember that Foveaux Strait is one of the most unpredictable passages in the world, and the water can be extremely rough. If you're prone to seasickness, come prepared and ask staff for comfortable sailing tips. They also sell homeopathic remedies at the check-in counter. It may be a short trip (1 hr.), but can be notoriously uncomfortable. Many people like to fly one-way and take the ferry the other. This gives you two perspectives, and eliminates a difficult water crossing if the weather is not fine.
Getting Around
Most things on the island are within walking distance, although a number of the accommodations lie farther out. To reach them, and some of the divine beaches, means a good up- and downhill walk. You can rent cars (NZ$60/US$43/£22 for a half-day), mountain bikes (NZ$36/US$26/£13 a day), and scooters (NZ$40/US$28/£14 per 2 hr.) from the Oban Visitor Centre on Main Road. A shuttle/minibus operates around the island like a taxi service. Both the Stewart Island Visitor Terminal, on the wharf (tel. 03/219-1134; www.stewartislandexperience.co.nz), and the visitor center can provide details and rates on these options. Charter boats and water taxis can be arranged for sightseers, hunters, divers, trampers, and fishermen. Make reservations at the Stewart Island Visitor Terminal or with Island Explorer, Stewart Island Flights Depot (tel. 03/219-1090; www.stewartislandflights.com). If you prefer, reservations can be made directly with the operators; go to the visitor center for information and brochures. Land transportation can also be arranged.
Visitor Information
The ferry will deposit you on the wharf at Oban within a few hundred meters from the center of the village. The village itself consists of the Ship to Shore General Store (tel./fax 03/219-1069), which prides itself on supplying everything from a needle to an anchor; a hotel; a couple of restaurants; the Department of Conservation base; a small museum; a school and community hall; numerous homes; and various travel offices.
The Stewart Island Visitor Information Centre is at 12 Elgin Terrace (tel. 03/219-1400; fax 03/219-1401; www.stewartisland.co.nz). It's open in summer from 9am to 6:30pm; and in winter from 10am to 4:30pm. The Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre is in the Department of Conservation building on Main Road (tel. 03/219-0002; fax 03/219-0003; www.doc.govt.nz). All trampers must report here for walking-track and hut passes. The staff members here are extremely well informed about all aspects of tramping and exploring the island; since some of the tracks are challenging, it pays to ask their advice. Also take a look at the 4-minute tramping video, which gives you an idea of what you're in for. They're open daily in summer from 8am to 5pm, and in winter from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Both are closed December 25.
Fast Facts
There is no full banking service available on the island. Credit cards are accepted by most businesses, but foreign traveler's checks and cash can be difficult to change, so it pays to arrive with New Zealand dollars.
Planning a Trip
Getting There
By Plane -- Air transport to Stewart Island is provided by Stewart Island Flights (tel. 03/218-9129; www.stewartislandflights.com), which is based at Invercargill Airport. You get breathtaking views of the island from the nine-seat Britten-Norman aircraft, which takes approximately 20 minutes to cross Foveaux Strait. Shuttle buses then deliver you to your accommodations in Oban. The fare is around NZ$155 (US$110/£56) round-trip. Stewart Island Flights can also help you plan and book your entire Stewart Island holiday.
By Boat -- The passenger-only ferry, operated by Stewart Island Experience, will have you on Stewart Island in an hour. It departs Bluff ferry terminal September through April from 8:30am until 4pm and from May through August 9:30am to 5pm. There's connecting bus service from Invercargill to Bluff; secure car parking is available near the Bluff ferry terminal. The round-trip fare is NZ$110 (US$78/£40) for adults and NZ$55 (US$39/£20) for children ages 5 to 14. For inquiries and reservations, call tel. 0800/000-511 in NZ, or 03/212-7660; or visit www.stewartislandexperience.co.nz.
Rough Going -- If you're taking the ferry, it is important to remember that Foveaux Strait is one of the most unpredictable passages in the world, and the water can be extremely rough. If you're prone to seasickness, come prepared and ask staff for comfortable sailing tips. They also sell homeopathic remedies at the check-in counter. It may be a short trip (1 hr.), but can be notoriously uncomfortable. Many people like to fly one-way and take the ferry the other. This gives you two perspectives, and eliminates a difficult water crossing if the weather is not fine.
Getting Around
Most things on the island are within walking distance, although a number of the accommodations lie farther out. To reach them, and some of the divine beaches, means a good up- and downhill walk. You can rent cars (NZ$60/US$43/£22 for a half-day), mountain bikes (NZ$36/US$26/£13 a day), and scooters (NZ$40/US$28/£14 per 2 hr.) from the Oban Visitor Centre on Main Road. A shuttle/minibus operates around the island like a taxi service. Both the Stewart Island Visitor Terminal, on the wharf (tel. 03/219-1134; www.stewartislandexperience.co.nz), and the visitor center can provide details and rates on these options. Charter boats and water taxis can be arranged for sightseers, hunters, divers, trampers, and fishermen. Make reservations at the Stewart Island Visitor Terminal or with Island Explorer, Stewart Island Flights Depot (tel. 03/219-1090; www.stewartislandflights.com). If you prefer, reservations can be made directly with the operators; go to the visitor center for information and brochures. Land transportation can also be arranged.
Visitor Information
The ferry will deposit you on the wharf at Oban within a few hundred meters from the center of the village. The village itself consists of the Ship to Shore General Store (tel./fax 03/219-1069), which prides itself on supplying everything from a needle to an anchor; a hotel; a couple of restaurants; the Department of Conservation base; a small museum; a school and community hall; numerous homes; and various travel offices.
The Stewart Island Visitor Information Centre is at 12 Elgin Terrace (tel. 03/219-1400; fax 03/219-1401; www.stewartisland.co.nz). It's open in summer from 9am to 6:30pm; and in winter from 10am to 4:30pm. The Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre is in the Department of Conservation building on Main Road (tel. 03/219-0002; fax 03/219-0003; www.doc.govt.nz). All trampers must report here for walking-track and hut passes. The staff members here are extremely well informed about all aspects of tramping and exploring the island; since some of the tracks are challenging, it pays to ask their advice. Also take a look at the 4-minute tramping video, which gives you an idea of what you're in for. They're open daily in summer from 8am to 5pm, and in winter from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Both are closed December 25.
Fast Facts
There is no full banking service available on the island. Credit cards are accepted by most businesses, but foreign traveler's checks and cash can be difficult to change, so it pays to arrive with New Zealand dollars.
