South Island day 14: Stewart Island

Today was the second of our all-day excursions (the first being the trip to Manapouri and Doubtful Sound from Te Anau). We made our way to Invercargill airport at around 7:15 and started the first leg of our day trip to Stewart Island. Again we probably had the best weather in the country: it wasn’t raining, although it was windy all day (and a ‘weird’ wind at that, according to the locals – easterlies aren’t that common).

When we booked the trip, we had the option of flying or ferrying to and from the island. We’re glad we chose to fly as the ferry crossing would not have been much fun at all – especially the thought of having to repeat it again at the end of the day!

There were two aircraft heading for the island in the morning. We were on the smaller one.

After we arrived we had an hour or so to kill in Oban before our first scheduled event, so we sought the comfort and warmth of the local pub/hotel/café/restaurant and played cards while watching the weather outside. Then it was off to meet Barry, who took us and another visitor for a trip around most of the roads on the island in a van, pointing out various features and quirky things. We saw quite a few people braving the elements and heading out for multi-day hikes (probably the Rakiura Great Walk track).

We arrived back at Oban and visited the DOC office to have a look around, then the few (ok, one) shops that were open – being Good Friday and all – and then went back to the pub for lunch. By this time the sun was trying to make an appearance, but the wind was still strong.

Then it was time to wander over the hill to Golden Bay for our water taxi to Ulva Island, a pest-free bird sanctuary. We had a couple of hours on the island, and saw Stewart Island robins, tui, kakariki, bellbirds (korimako), weka, yellowheads, oystercatchers, fantails. I think I saw a rifleman too, but being so small and fast, it was hard to know for sure. (By the way I’m not that good at identifying birds and plants; we were given a booklet which had pictures in it of all these and more.)

Highlights of the day:
For Raewyn, it was ‘making it back to Invercargill alive’. For me, it was seeing the friendliness and openness of the locals and just the different way of life. On our tour, Barry pointed out various things to us that we just take for granted – like where the boat comes up to collect the islanders’ rubbish and recycling, and the diesel-powered electricity generators.


The first plane. Note the excitement from the aviation enthusiast


The scene upon arriving in Oban


Perfect weather for a coffee


Out on the tour


The water taxi.


Local wildlife on Ulva Island


Stewart Island robin


Tui


Yellowhead


Bellbird


The sun finally made an appearance


On the plane back to Invercargill