Stewart Island/ Rakiura short walks Rakiura – land of the glowing skies Contents Stewart Island/Rakiura 2

History 4

Ulva Island – Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve and 6 Te Whaka a Te Wera Mātaitai Reserve

Ulva Island –Te Wharawhara – a special place 7

Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre 8

Map 10

Short walks and tracks 12

Other places to visit 25

Recreational activities 26

Local birds 28

Cover: Ulva Island Photo: Dean McKenzie

Published by: Department of Conservation Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre PO Box 3, Stewart Island 9846 July 2018 Editing and design: Creative Services Team, DOC National office All photos, unless otherwise credited, are copyright DOC.

This publication is produced using paper sourced from well-managed, renewable and legally logged forests. Stewart Island/Rakiura

Just 20 minutes by plane from Invercargill or an hour by ferry from Bluff, Stewart Island/Rakiura is a place where you can experience lush rainforest, clear, clean water and abundant marine and bird life. “An actual piece of the primeval world,” was how naturalist Leonard Cockayne described Rakiura in 1909. Cockayne’s description is still relevant today, with 85% of the island protected by national park status. Halfmoon Bay, known as Oban, is the only settlement on the island and has a population of around 400 people. Although there are only a few shops in the township, nearly all items visitors require are available from the town’s general store. Please note: There is one ATM on the island that is only accessible during shop hours and does not accept foreign credit cards. Many places also accept EFTPOS, Visa and MasterCard. Naming One of the earlier Māori names for the island, Te puka o te waka a Māui (the anchor of Māui’s canoe) refers to the story The Māori name, Rakiura, came about when Te Rakitamau, of Māui’s discovery of . He used the second son of Tukekawa, crossed Te Ara a Kewa (Foveaux Strait) as a waka (canoe) to fish up the while Stewart to Mouterenui (Big Island) to ask a Kati Māmoe chief for the Island/Rakiura anchored his canoe. The chain sculpture at Lee elder of his daughters in marriage. He found that she was tāpui Bay, which marks the entrance to Rakiura National Park, is in (betrothed) to another. He blushed in embarrassment and asked recognition of this legend. for the second daughter instead. When he found that she was tāpui also, he blushed even deeper. From this arose the saying Today Rakiura is commonly translated as ‘land of the glowing ‘Te raki o te uranga a Te Rakitamau’ (the day of the blushings of skies’, possibly in reference to the vibrant sunrises, lingering Te Rakitamau). In memory of the event, the saying was used as a sunsets, and the occasional night-time glow of the aurora new name for the island and soon became shortened to Rakiura australis (Southern Lights). (blushing skies) or Raki (Te Rakitamau) ura (blushing). Stewart Island takes its European name from William Stewart, who began charting the southern coasts of the island in the early 1800s while on board the sealing vessel Pegasus.

Weather The weather on Stewart Island/Rakiura is often unpredictable. There are no distinctive wet and dry months – it is possible to have four seasons in one day! Rain falls on around 265 days of the year, with rainfall in Oban averaging 1600 mm per year, rising to 5000 mm in the south and west of the island. Sunshine hours in Oban equal the national average, with temperatures in summer reaching the mid-twenties. The maximum average winter temperature is 9.9°C and heavy frosts are uncommon.

Above – Lee Bay entrance to and Rakiura National Park. Photo: Jeremy Pearce Left – Kayaking on Paterson Inlet. Photo: Liz Cave 2 3 History Natural history Rimu and kāmahi are the Archaeological evidence shows Māori have been visiting Stewart main tall forest trees around Island/Rakiura on food-gathering expeditions since the 13th Oban, with rimu, miro and century, taking advantage of the rich sea and bird life. Today, tōtara providing timber cultural harvest of muttonbird/tītī on the nearby Titi/Muttonbird for the early settlers. Islands is still important for many Rakiura Māori, and Rakiura is Rimu from the island still of great importance to Ngāi Tahu Whānui. was greatly prized due Rakiura and the Foveaux Strait area were significant for to its high proportion of economic and cultural interaction between Māori and early heartwood, a result of the European sealers and whalers in the late 1700s and early 1800s. slow growth rate on Stewart Many men who came in search of seals and whales married local Island/Rakiura. Māori women, had families and stayed. Local Māori also became Kāmahi is the most common tree, identified by the whitish involved in whaling and sealing. This became the foundation of blotches on its spreading trunk and its toothed, wavy leaves. Rātā the modern settlement of the island and many residents trace is also widespread and in summer, its spectacular show of bright their ancestry to these early beginnings. red flowers makes it easily recognisable. Crown agents purchased the island from Rakiura Māori in 1864 Lancewood, coprosma, tree fern and broadleaf make up the forest for £6,000. However, tītī harvest rights for Rakiura Māori were understory. Fuchsia is common around Oban and is one of New protected. Gold and tin mining, sawmilling, boat building and Zealand’s few deciduous trees, as well as the largest fuchsia in fishing industries developed with the growing population, and the world. It has orangey, papery bark and pendulous purple by 1870 Oban was a small yet active township. Tourism began to flowers, whose nectar is a favourite food for tūī and bellbirds/ develop around this time, based around the island’s scenic values. korimako. Wood pigeons/kererū feed on the purple, fleshy berry Reserves were created to protect these values, beginning with known as kōnini. Ferns throughout Ulva Island in 1899 – one of the first reserves in New Zealand. the forest are lush and varied Visitors to Harrold Bay will see one of the oldest buildings in and grow in a variety of New Zealand: a stone house built by Lewis Acker in 1835. On the habitats, along with 30 way are Lonnekers Beach and Leask Bay, each associated with species of native orchid. early whaling and fishing industries. In 1875 the island’s first If you arrive by boat, hotel was opened at Lonnekers Beach and the giant blue gums your introduction to seen today were planted. For further insight into the history of Rakiura’s birdlife is often Rakiura, the Rakiura Museum is definitely worth a visit. the muttonbirds/tītī, gulls, Today cod, crayfish and pāua fishing, salmon and mussel farming, Buller’s mollymawks and conservation and tourism are the island’s main industries. little blue penguins/kororā. Around Oban, bellbirds, tūī and parakeets/kākāriki are easily seen. Most island residents boast of having these birds, as well as Rakiura Heritage fantails/pīwakawaka and wood pigeons, in their gardens. Rakiura Heritage, by Neville Peat, Summer evenings resound with the liquid melody of kākā high provides a guide to the intriguing array in the trees or calling across the waters of Paterson Inlet/Whaka of historic sites found on the island. a Te Wera. Grey warblers/riroriro sing in the forest, particularly after rain, and walkers commonly encounter tomtits/miromiro This book is available from various on the tracks. outlets on Stewart Island/Rakiura, including the Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre. Top – Fuchsia flowers. Photo: Chris Rance Above – Rātā in flower. Photo: Sean Cooper 4 5 Ulva Island – Te Wharawhara Marine Ulva Island – Te Wharawhara – a special place Reserve and Te Whaka a Te Wera Ulva Island is the jewel in the Rakiura National Park’s crown and a place not to be missed. Just 10 minutes by boat across Paterson Mātaitai Reserve Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera, Ulva Island is one of the few sanctuaries in New Zealand open to visitors. From early times, Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera has held spiritual significance for tangata whenua. The inlet’s Abundant birdlife, rich forest, golden sand beaches and a variety combination of rocky reef, sand and soft-mud floor is an of well-formed walking tracks make for a wonderful half- or important habitat for more than 46 species of fish. It also has full-day visit either by yourself or with a guide. The island more varieties of seaweed than anywhere else in New Zealand was declared free of rats in 1997 following a pest eradication and other interesting species, such as the living fossils called programme, allowing endangered birds to be released and the brachiopods. forest to recover. Department of Conservation biosecurity teams are committed to maintaining this status. It is the ongoing In recognition of the inlet’s continuing special importance, responsibility of everyone to help protect this special place. The Rakiura Māori and the Stewart Island community secured a Ulva Island Charitable Trust, a community volunteer group mātaitai reserve in 1994, prohibiting commercial fishing within dedicated to providing a refuge for endangered species in the all internal waters. The boundary is between Ackers Point and sanctuary, is helping to restore the island. Bullers Point on The Neck. Ulva Island has an interesting human history, being the site of a See Department of Conservation, www.doc.govt.nz or the post office established in 1872 that served as a focal point for the Ministry of Primary Industries’ website, www.fish.govt.nz, for inlet settlements at that time. bylaws and recreational fishing rules that apply in this area. There is no entry fee to the island. For more information, please The Ulva Island – Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve covers 1,075 refer to ‘Ulva Island – Explore an island paradise’, available from hectares, or about 15% of Paterson Inlet, adjoining Ulva Island. All the Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre and at the Ulva Island marine life is fully protected in the marine reserve. This special shelter, in Post Office Bay. area provides a haven for fish and shellfish and animals such as seals and penguins, as well as seabirds that breed on For visitors with children, land but feed at sea. this is a Guardians site – more details at the Free from harvest, a reserve can return to its natural state, Visitor Centre or online providing opportunities for study and enjoyment in an at www.doc.govt.nz. undisturbed marine environment. Right – Ulva Island. Photo: Jeremy Pearce Bottom – Jellyfish at Ulva Island. Photo: Keri Moyle

ULVA ISLAND Golden Bay Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara

Marine Reserve NATIVE ISLAND

THE NECK Paterson Inlet / Whaka a Te Wera

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Visitor centre Bluff [

Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre Toilet Butterfield Beach Wharf Situated on Main Road, a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal Viewpoint and flight centre, Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre is open Bridge E daily except Christmas Day. Opening hours vary according to Cemetery Walking track the season. For the current hours, check the Visitor Centre doors Bathing Beach Non- DOC managed tracks or the website at www.doc.govt.nz Sealed road E H O R SE Metalled road S H The Visitor Centre offers: O E Halfmoon Bay B A Y R • National park and conservation information O A D • Up-to-date weather and track information Stewart Island Ferry T ROAD Visitor Terminal POR Rakiura National • Hunting and permit information AIR NTRY Park Visitor Centre NO E • Hut tickets MAIN ROAD [ E D L To Fern Gully, U G N Ryans Creek, D IN E • Rakiura Track bookings Kaipipi Bay E T E S T R and Rakiura T E R E R Track E R A E T C T S E • A range of retail products – maps, brochures, books, souvenirs R AY FUCHSIA WALK • Topographical maps for hire or purchase D A O Traill D R A Park O E P K R G E • Emergency locator beacons for hire L Y TE A D D H R A I I S W B A LL O R N A N O RO S O E R A R D A D A L R K R O IO A • Lockers that are accessible during opening hours G LS K E C X E OBSERVATION • An area where visitors can watch DVDs and videos on ROCK TRACK DEEP BAY conservation-related topics THU LE R (PETERSON HILL ) OAD TRACK D A O R • A display area with information on the cultural and natural S LER OH history of the island. RYANS CREEK Golden W TRACK Thule Bay Bay Golden Bay Wharf GO LD EN B AY T RA CK

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0 0.5 1 km Paterson Inlet / Whaka ā Te Wera 0 3 1 R Short walks and tracks 1. Observation Rock 30 minutes Times for the tracks described below range from 30 minutes to 6 or 7 hours. Times given are for return trips Although it’s a steep walk to reach Observation Rock, you are from the Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre (RNPVC). rewarded with panoramic views over Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera and, on clear days, views of Mount Rakeahua. Observation Most walking tracks around the village are gravelled and can Rock is also a superb place to watch sunsets – and sometimes the easily be walked in practical shoes. However, tracks marked aurora australis. with an asterisk (*) can be muddy, and tramping boots are recommended. Carry a raincoat, because weather on Rakiura Directions: From the RNPVC head towards the waterfront, turn changes rapidly and it is best to be well prepared for all conditions. right, walking along the waterfront until you reach Ayr Street. Turn right here and follow the road to the top of the hill, turning left at Bicycles are allowed on some walking tracks around Oban. Leonard Street. At the end of Leonard Street, the road bends to the Check track information and observe the signs. left to Excelsior Street. Look for the Department of Conservation Dogs can harm birdlife and are not permitted on most tracks. signpost marking the short path to Observation Rock. Ask at the Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre for information on where you can take your dog.

Track grades

Easy access short walk: suitable for people of all View from Observation Rock. Photo: Keri Moyle abilities, wheelchairs and pushchairs. Walking shoes required.

Short walk: well-formed track with easy walking for up to an hour. There may be steps or slopes. Suitable for most abilities and fitness levels.

Walking track: gentle walk from a few minutes to a day, suitable for people with low to moderate fitness and abilities.

Great Walk/easy tramping track: well-formed track, suitable for comfortable day tramping or hiking.

Tramping track: challenging day or multi-day tramping. Track may be rough and muddy. Suitable for fit, experienced and adequately equipped people.

12 13 2. Fuchsia and Raroa Reserve Walks 3. Fern Gully* 1 hour 2 hours

Five minutes from the RNPVC lies an area of rich natural forest Fern Gully follows an old sawmill track along a stream flanked by untouched by early milling operations. Two tracks run through beautiful ferns and regenerating forest. This is a sheltered walk this section of scenic reserve, which was gifted to the Government with minimal elevation – ideal for children and those wanting a in the 1960s by Captain George Turner. He recognised the gentle day hike. Because of the low gradient, this track can be importance of protecting walks near Halfmoon Bay that had been muddy, which is why it is classified as a tramping track. Sturdy undamaged by early milling or land clearance. The track takes footwear is recommended. you past 500-year-old rimu, lush ferns, vibrant mosses and tree Directions: Turn left outside the RNPVC and continue up Main fuchsia. During the summer months, this area of forest is alive Road for 2 km. Main Road will take you to the Fern Gully car park with the chorus of bellbirds/korimako, tūī, wood pigeons/kererū where a signpost marks the start of the Fern Gully track. and kākā. Crown fern. Photo: DOC Directions: Turn left outside the RNPVC and left again into Dundee Street. Fuchsia Walk is signposted about 100 m to your right. Follow the walk to Traill Park. From here you might choose to cross the field and climb Observation Rock or continue diagonally across the field and onto the Raroa Walk. This 15-minute track takes you to Watercress Beach and Thule Road.

Raroa Walk. Photo: Keri Moyle

4. Lonnekers Beach – Ringaringa Beach – Evening Cove 1 hr 30 min

Directions: For the beach lovers, follow the coast road to Lonnekers Beach. A track begins halfway along Lonnekers Beach, climbing up and over a small hill before descending into Ringaringa Beach. Ringaringa Beach boasts of a variety of rockpools, perfect for exploring although only accessible at low tide. From Ringaringa you may return the same way or continue up the trail to Leask Bay Road. From Leask Bay turn right into Evening Cove Road for a 10-minute walk leading to a peaceful and secluded beach. It is worth noting that this beach all but disappears at high tide, so check a tide chart before heading out.

14 15 5. Golden Bay – Deep Bay – Ringaringa 6. Bathing Beach Beach – Peterson Hill 30 minutes 1 hr 30 min – 2 hours Bathing Beach is a popular and sheltered swimming area with This coastal-fringe track winds, climbs and falls to provide scenic a white sand beach. The adjacent Mill Creek estuary is an views of Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera, Ulva Island and interesting place to explore at low tide, with remnants of timber Halfmoon Bay from the top of Peterson Hill. During bad weather, from early milling days still visible along the creek edge. This the forest offers some protection from rain and wind. track is maintained by the Council. A picnic table at Deep Bay provides a place to pause and enjoy Directions: Continue uphill from the general store, turning right the scenery. You may also continue straight ahead from Deep into Kamahi Road and following this around until reaching the Bay, along the road to Ringaringa beach lookout. A monument to Bathing Beach signpost. Reverend Wohlers, an early missionary, is situated not far from this point. Carry on past the Ringaringa Beach lookout until you see the marked trail beginning as the road ends. This track travels over private land so please respect this area. From the monument, Bathing Beach. Photo: Keri Moyle you are rewarded with panoramic views over Native Island and the inlet. Directions: From the RNPVC, follow Golden Bay Road past Traill Park and down into Golden Bay. Before you get to Golden Bay Wharf, you will see the track signposted to your left. To return to Halfmoon Bay, walk back along the road past Deep Bay for a short distance until you meet the track through Deep Bay Reserve and over Peterson Hill.

Right – Wohlers Monument. Photo: DOC Below – Ringaringa Point. Photo: Keri Moyle

16 17 7. Moturau Moana 8. Harrold Bay and Ackers Point 1 hour 3 hours

Moturau Moana translates to ‘islands of bush above the sea’ and Harrold Bay and Ackers Point Track follows the southern is a mostly native garden, gifted by the late Noeline Baker to the coastline of Halfmoon Bay to a scenic lookout. New Zealand Government. Miss Baker collected the plants both Rich in history, picturesque Harrold Bay boasts one of the from Stewart Island/Rakiura and on field trips to the South Island. oldest stone buildings in New Zealand. Venture inside the Today, these gardens provide a peaceful setting with views over house, built by Lewis Acker in 1835, and imagine life here with Halfmoon Bay. The gardens are suitable for pushchairs. Picnic his nine children! tables, a shelter and toilet facilities are provided. Continue along the main track through coastal forest until Directions: From the Halfmoon Bay waterfront, continue left up you reach Ackers Point. Here you will discover fantastic views the hill from the general store. Continue past Butterfield Beach to out over the Titi/Muttonbird Islands and Foveaux Strait. In the Bragg Bay turn-off. The entrance to Moturau Moana is a few mid- to late summer tītī, also known as sooty shearwaters minutes along this gravel road, signposted on the left. or muttonbirds, can sometimes be spotted returning to their burrows around the point after dark. If you are lucky, after dusk you may be able to spot a little blue penguin/kororā,

The gardens at Moturau Moana. Photo: DOC but remember to stay on the gravelled path! A lighthouse at Ackers Point, translocated from ‘The Neck’, lit the way for boats until 2006. It has since been replaced by a beacon and viewing platform for visitors. For visitors with children, this is a Toyota Kiwi Guardians site – find more details at the RNPVC or online at www.doc.govt.nz. Toilet facilities are located at the start of this track; however, toilet paper is not provided. Directions: To get to Harrold Bay and Ackers Point, turn right at the Halfmoon Bay waterfront and follow the coast road, passing Lonnekers Bay and Leask Bay until you reach the end of the road marking the start of the track. Please respect the privacy of the landowners while visiting Harrold Bay and Ackers Point.

Ackers Point Beacon. Photo: DOC 18 19 9. Horseshoe Point 10. Ryans Creek* 3–4 hours 3 hr 30 min – 4 hr

Maintained by Southland District Council, the Horseshoe Point Between 1861 and 1931, a series Track meanders along the coast from Bragg Bay, winding above of sawmills in this area milled Biking: As this track is secluded bays and crystal-clear water. It descends steeply to Dead mainly rimu timber, along an original logging road, Man Beach, which despite the name, is a pleasant spot to stop with some tōtara and miro. biking is permitted from for a rest. Remnants of one of these mills Fern Gully to the picnic table. Horseshoe Point is about an hour’s walk from Bragg Bay and is an can be seen in Ryans Creek Bikers must return the same ideal place to view Foveaux Strait. From the point, the track passes at low tide. Rimu, tōtara and way. Please make yourselves under huge macrocarpa trees, remnants of a former homestead miro make up the majority of known to walkers. site, and eventually finishes beside the entrance to the Resource Rakiura’s forest canopy. These Recovery Centre. podocarp trees produce fruit that numerous native birds rely on for food. Southern rātā, kāmahi, broadleaf and mānuka make up Directions: Follow Horseshoe Bay Road north for about 1.5 km, much of the sub-canopy forest, with an abundance of ferns and turning into Bragg Bay Road just uphill from Butterfield Beach. mosses carpeting the forest floor. The track starts at the end of the road. In addition to scenic views of Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera, Right – Native orchid. Photo: DOC walkers may also see wading birds feeding on the Vaila Voe Bay Below – View from Horseshoe Track. Photo: DOC mudflats at low tide. Remember to keep an eye out for the tiny and delicate variations of Stewart Island orchid. Directions: Ryans Creek track is accessible from either Thule Road end or Kaipipi Road end, with the track winding, climbing and descending through coastal vegetation.

20 21 11. Kaipipi Bay* 12. Garden Mound – Little River* 3 hours 4–5 hours

During the first 30 years of For panoramic forest views over Oban, a walk up Garden Mound timber milling, activity was Biking: As this track cannot be beaten. Garden Mound, an early scenic reserve, very intense, and more than is an original logging escaped the milling activity that was once widespread from Port 100 people were employed road, biking is permitted William/Potirepo to the northern coast of Paterson Inlet/Whaka a at the mills. In its heyday, to the sign at Kaipipi Te Wera. In the early 1900s, Garden Mound was a popular place the track to Kaipipi Bay only. Bikers, please make for locals to visit, being one of the few areas close to the village was one of the busiest and yourselves known to walkers. with forest still intact and where birds were common. best-maintained roads on Huge rimu, rātā and kāmahi are a feature of the track, which the island, with people and supplies travelling back and forth climbs to 160 m before dropping steadily to Little River. A scenic between the mills and Oban. A large wharf was located at Kaipipi round trip is possible by returning towards Lee Bay through Bay to ship timber out. The predominant vegetation present is the chain link sculpture which marks the entrance to Rakiura regenerating forest. National Park. Directions: The walk to Kaipipi Bay takes you along an old As Garden Mound is a tramping track, it is steep and slippery in logging road. The surface is still in reasonable condition sections. Tramping boots are advised. considering all the traffic that has travelled along it. At the track end a small grassy clearing looks out over Kaipipi Bay, Directions: Walk north past the general store and along an enclosed haven on the Horseshoe Bay Road for about an hour until you reach the Lee north shore of Paterson Inlet/ Bay Road turn-off at the far end of Horseshoe Bay. The start of Whaka a Te Wera. The track Garden Mound track is signposted to your left, about 10 minutes continues to North Arm Hut, along the road to Lee Bay. part of the Rakiura Track Great Walk.

Above – Kaipipi Bay. Photo: Keri Moyle Below – Lee Bay to Hananui. Photo: DOC

22 23 13. Maori Beach Other places to visit 6–7 hours Cemetery For those wanting to venture further afield into Rakiura National Park, Maori Beach is an excellent choice for a day walk, offering 45 minutes stunning scenery and plenty of local history. The Southland District Council’s Oban cemetery offers an insight Between 1913 and 1935 the into the lives of some of the early settlers on the island, while Maori Beach area was a busy providing stunning views out over the Mill Creek estuary. settlement with a school, Directions: From the general store, continue left uphill on along with several houses Horseshoe Bay Road. Just after crossing Mill Creek bridge, turn for workers from the Maori left into Mapau Road and follow this road until turning left at the Beach Sawmilling Company. cemetery signpost. After the mill closed in 1931 (the last operating mill on Right – Halfmoon Bay Cemetery, Stewart Island/Rakiura), overlooking Mill Creek estuary. Below – Ulva Island. Photo: DOC people gradually drifted away. Today the area is peaceful and picturesque, with regenerating forest quickly hiding evidence of those earlier days. However, remains of a boiler and steam engine used by the mill can still be found, along with clumps of montbretia and bluebells – legacies from the sawmillers’ cottages. At the beach, a campsite for trampers provides a small shelter, drinking water and a toilet, but not toilet paper. People intending to stay overnight must first book the campsite either online at www.doc.govt.nz or at the RNPVC. Directions: From Oban follow the Horseshoe Bay Road north for about an hour, until reaching Lee Bay Road. Turn left here, following Lee Bay Road until the end, which marks the start of Rakiura National Park and the track to Maori Beach and Port William Hut. There are high tide tracks at Little River and Maori Beach – the Maori Beach high tide section can be muddy but the rest of the track beyond is gravelled and in good condition.

Above – Sawmill relics at Maori Beach. Photo: DOC Below – Maori Beach. Photo: Bevan Mudie

24 25 Recreational activities Snorkelling and diving Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara Overnight tramping Marine Reserve surrounds In addition to the short walks mentioned in this brochure, there much of Ulva Island, are three tramping tracks on the island offering a variety of providing a safe haven overnight options. For more information on the 3-day Rakiura and nursery for a variety Track Great Walk, the 11-day Northwest Circuit Track and the of marine life. With the 5–8-day Southern Circuit Track, visit the Rakiura National Park clear waters of Paterson Visitor Centre. Trampers need to be well equipped to walk Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera, divers these tracks. and snorkellers can enjoy the spectacular range of seaweeds, Fishing along with fish and shellfish, and Fishing from the rocks may be difficult because of the kelp other marine animals such as seals and penguins. For more forests surrounding the rocky coastline. However, boat charter information contact the Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre. trips are popular, and a variety of options are available. Biking About 15% of Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera is marine reserve Because there are only 28 km of roads, biking is an alternative to and most of the remainder of the inlet is a mātaitai reserve. hiring a car as a means of getting around Oban. Ensure that you Please make sure you know the local fishing rules before observe all signs and follow the Mountain Bikers Code: Respect venturing out. others, respect the rules, respect the track. Hunting Please note, mountain bikes and e-bikes are not allowed on most With the only readily accessible herd of whitetail deer in the tracks, however two tracks have partial access. If in doubt, please southern hemisphere, Stewart Island/Rakiura is a popular check with the Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre. location for deer hunters. Permits are required to hunt in the designated areas of public conservation land. For more Kayaking information contact the Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre. On calm days, Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera and the eastern coast of the island are excellent for kayaking. The clear water, Right – Snorkelling, Ulva island. Photo: DOC abundant marine life and bush-fringed coastline make the island a Below – Kayaking. Photo: Liz Cave kayaker’s paradise. For independent kayakers there is a useful fact sheet available from the Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre.

26 27 Local birds For more information about SIRCET please contact: Stewart Island/Rakiura Community and Environment Trust Native birds are abundant around the Oban area. Bird numbers PO Box 124 have been steadily increasing, thanks to the efforts of the Stewart Island 9846 Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project initiated by the [email protected] | www.sircet.org.nz Stewart Island/Rakiura Community and Environment Trust (SIRCET). This community-driven pest control project aims to Some of the birds commonly encountered enhance backyard biodiversity and the return of native species. around the township and wider area are shown below.

Tūī. Photo: Tui de Roy Bellbird/korimako. Photo: Brent Beaven Stewart Island robin/toutouwai. DOC Fantail/pīwakawaka. D Mudge

Wood pigeon/kererū. Eamonn Ganley . Brent Beaven NZ parakeet/kākāriki. DOC Grey warbler. Kari Beaven

Silvereye. Brent Beaven Tomtit/miromiro. Brent Beaven Kākā. Brent Beaven Oystercatcher/tōrea. DOC

28 29 PO Box 180,Oban, Stewart Island 9846 Ulva Island Charitable Trust www.doc.govt.nz Email: [email protected] Phone +643219 0009 Stewart Island 9818 15 Main Road, Halfmoon Bay Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre or any ofthe tramping tracks please contact: For further information about walks onStewart Island/Rakiura Further information 9

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