Attractions, Tours, Hikes and Activities in the Rakiura National Park
Escape to an island where around 85% of it is a national park! That’s right, the Rakiura National Park on Stewart Island is the final frontier for even the most seasoned traveller of New Zealand, offering untouched river valleys, rolling dunes and sweeping beaches that feel a world away from anywhere. Hiking is the main way to experience the national park, but boat cruises and scenic flights will get you to the remote reaches of the park should you choose not to wear your legs out. Discover the very best things to do in Rakiura National Park with this list.
1. Hike the Rakiura Track
Let’s kick off this list of the best things to do in Rakiura National Park with one of the acclaimed New Zealand Great Walks! The Rakiura Track is a three-day loop track encompassing the highlights of the national park and Stewart Island including beaches, native bush and birdlife.
Location: Start either from Lee Bay, approximately 5km (3.1 miles) from Oban or the Fern Gully car park on Main Road approximately 2km (1.2 miles) from Oban.
© NZPocketGuide.com2. Take the Ferry to Ulva Island
A must-do half or full-day trip from Stewart Island, Ulva Island is accessed on a five-minute ferry trip from Golden Bay. The island is a pest-free bird sanctuary within the realm of the Rakiura National Park, which is networked with walking trails to explore the island and its inhabitants. Either visit independently via the Ulva Island Ferry & Water Taxi or take a guided tour of the island with a cruise included with RealNZ (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook). Learn more about visiting Ulva Island in the 20 Best Things to Do on Stewart Island.
Location: Ferries depart from Golden Bay, approximately 1km (0.6 miles) from Oban. Alternatively, tours with RealNZ depart from the Oban ferry terminal.
© NZPocketGuide.com3. Go Kiwi Spotting
Your chances of seeing a kiwi bird in the wild are much higher on Stewart Island and the Rakiura National Park than elsewhere in New Zealand. Not only do the local species of Stewart Island brown kiwi have fewer threats in the national park but they are known for staying up until midday. With that in mind, it’s not uncommon to spot kiwi birds on the hiking trails of the national park. If you want a higher chance to spot a kiwi, however, it’s worth joining a guided tour such as with Ruggedy Range to Mason Bay. Other kiwi spotting tours are also available just outside the national park near Oban, such as with RealNZ to Ocean Beach.
Location: Ruggedy Range, 14 Main Road, Oban. Alternatively, tours with RealNZ depart from the Oban ferry terminal.
© Tourism New Zealand4. Enjoy a Day Hike on the Garden Mound Track
While the Rakiura National Park is renowned for its multi-day hikes, which we will get onto later, there are a couple of day hikes that are worth seeking out too. Hike up the Garden Mound Track, for instance, to walk among huge native trees reaching up to 160m (525ft) to Little River. You can return on the trail of the Rakiura Track to complete a loop where you’ll find the link chain sculpture entrance to the Rakiura National Park. The trail is about four to five hours return. We also list this experience as one of the 16 Free & Cheap Things to Do on Stewart Island.
Location: Along Lee Bay Road, approximately 4.7km (2.9 miles) north of Oban.
© Unsplash5. Enjoy a Longer Day Hike to Maori Beach
For a longer day hike and an excellent taste of the Rakiura Track, try the day return walk along the Rakiura Track to Maori Beach and back. The six-to-seven-hour walk offers excellent scenery of bush and beach, as well as some interesting historical sites such as an old sawmill. And if you find long walks a romantic thing to do with your partner on the island, you might also like the 10 Most Romantic Things to Do on Stewart Island for Couples.
Location: Lee Bay car park, end of Lee Bay Road, approximately 5km (3.1 miles) from Oban.
© Unsplash6. Hike the North West Circuit…
For those looking for a real wilderness experience; to explore the northern reaches of Stewart Island, challenge yourself to the North West Circuit. The whopping 125km (77.7-mile) loop takes between nine to 11 days to complete, where you can easily lose yourself (hopefully not literally) in the sweeping beaches and rocky hilltops. The only downside to this trail is the mud – so much mud!
Location: Lee Bay car park, end of Lee Bay Road, approximately 5km (3.1 miles) from Oban.
© NZPocketGuide.com7. … Or Hike the Southern Circuit
Yes, there’s another option for multi-day hiking on Stewart Island and it’s the Southern Circuit. Although not quite as long as the North West Circuit, the Southern Circuit is a more challenging backcountry hike where route finding skills may be necessary with areas prone to flooding and, yes, more mud. Nevertheless, a highlight is Mason Bay and its sweeping sands where kiwi birds are often spotted.
Location: End of Main Road, Oban.
© NZPocketGuide.com8. Fly to Mason Bay and Hike Back to the Freshwater River
For an overnight version of the Southern Circuit with a flight and water taxi experience included, do the Coast to Coast trek from Mason Bay to Freshwater Landing. Join Stewart Island Flights for a scenic journey over the Rakiura National Park, landing on the sandy shores of Mason Bay. You’ll stay overnight in the Mason Bay Hut before making your way down along the wetlands and sand dunes of the Freshwater Valley to Freshwater Landing where a water taxi with Rakiura Charters & Water Taxi can pick you up at high tide. For more Rakiura flight experiences, check out the 6 Best Luxury Experiences on Stewart Island.
Location: Flights depart from Ryans Creek Aerodrome, Airport Road, approximately 2km (1.2 miles) from Oban.
© NZPocketGuide.com9. Join a Pelagic Bird Cruise
While the Rakiura National Park might just cover land, it also provides important nesting grounds for pelagic birds, who are best seen on a boat cruise around Stewart Island. Experience close encounters with giant petrels, cape petrels, sooty shearwaters, wandering albatross, yellow-eyed and blue penguins and much more. Pelagic birds cruises are available with Rakiura Charters & Water Taxi, Aihe Eco Charters & Water Taxi and Tequila Fishing and Bird Watching Charters.
Location: Rakiura Charters – 10 Main Road, Oban. Aihe – 14 Main Road, Oban. Tequila – 28 Main Road, Oban.
© NZPocketGuide.com10. Enjoy a Scenic Cruise Through the Rakiura National Park
And for the final best thing to do in the Rakiura National Park, a scenic cruise is a worthy way to see the inhabitants of the surrounding waters and access the park’s remote historical and scenic sites. For instance, join Rakiura Charters & Water Taxi for a scenic trip up the Freshwater River or hit Aihe Eco Charters & Water Taxi up for a tour for a trip to a Norwegian Whalers’ Base or a salmon and mussel farm. See more like this in the 10 Things to Do on Stewart Island with Kids.
Location: Rakiura Charters – 10 Main Road, Oban. Aihe – 14 Main Road, Oban.
© NZPocketGuide.comMore Things to Do in Rakiura National Park
That’s it for our list of the best things to do in the Rakiura National Park. Get more advice on planning a trip to Rakiura with the following guides:
- Rakiura National Park – Guide for Backpackers
- The Complete Travel Guide to Stewart Island
- 20 Best Things to Do on Stewart Island
Finally, see which of these Rakiura experiences make it onto your New Zealand bucket list along with some of the 101 Things to Do in New Zealand: The Ultimate List.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Southland NZ (Regional tourism website)
- Southland District Council (Local council website)
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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