Stewart Island, or Rakiura (“land of glowing skies”), is New Zealand’s third-largest island, lying south of the South Island. About 85% of it is protected as Rakiura National Park. It is home to the Stewart Island brown kiwi (tokoeka), and it is the best place in New Zealand to see a kiwi in the wild. Unusually, kiwi here are sometimes active in daylight and forage on beaches for sandhoppers. See our kiwi profile.
At a glance
| Best time | Year-round; spring and summer (October to March) are milder |
| Getting there | Ferry from Bluff (1 hour) or a flight from Invercargill (20 minutes) |
| Time needed | 2 to 3 nights |
| Big draws | Wild kiwi, Ulva Island birds, seabirds, hiking |
| Good for | Nature lovers, birders, hikers |
Seeing kiwi
- Guided night tours: small-group tours by boat to remote beaches, then walks through the forest to look for kiwi feeding on the sand. Sightings are likely.
- On your own: kiwi are sometimes seen around Oban (the only town) and on walking tracks at dusk or night. Use a red torch and keep your distance.
- Rakiura Track: on this multi-day Great Walk, hikers sometimes see kiwi near the huts.
Ulva Island
A small, predator-free island in Paterson Inlet, a short water-taxi ride from Oban. Its old-growth forest is full of birds that are rare on the mainland: saddlebacks (tīeke), yellowheads (mohua), Stewart Island robins, kākā, kākāriki (parakeets), bellbirds and tūī. Guided walks help you find them.
Other wildlife
- Seabirds: albatrosses, shearwaters, penguins and shags on boat trips and pelagic tours.
- Yellow-eyed penguins and little penguins.
- New Zealand fur seals and sea lions.
- Southern lights (aurora australis) on clear winter nights.
When to go
- October to March: milder weather, longer days, breeding birds.
- April to September: colder and wetter, but kiwi are active year-round and auroras are more likely.
Getting there
Take the ferry from Bluff (about 1 hour; the Foveaux Strait can be rough) or fly from Invercargill (about 20 minutes).
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to see kiwi on Stewart Island? It is the easiest place in New Zealand to see wild kiwi, especially on a guided night tour.
Are Stewart Island kiwi active in daytime? Sometimes. The Stewart Island brown kiwi is occasionally seen foraging in daylight.
How long should I stay? Two to three nights for a kiwi tour, a visit to Ulva Island and walks.
Is Ulva Island worth visiting? Yes, it is one of the best places in New Zealand to see rare native birds.
Related guides
- New Zealand wildlife guide
- Kaikōura whale watching
- Tasmania wildlife guide
- Animal profiles: Kiwi, Kea, Kākāpō
Cover photo: Christine Braaten, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons