Rakiura National Park – Guide for Backpackers 🤙 [2024]

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Backpacking Rakiura National Park – Multi-Day Hikes

The best way to make the most of your stay on Stewart Island is to take the multi-day walking tracks – if you’re new to multi-day hiking check out Multi-Day Backpacking Trips in New Zealand: A Complete Guide. The only way to see much of Stewart Island is on these tracks, as no roads reach this far into the national park.

Learn about how the huts work along the trail in our guide, New Zealand Hut to Hut Hiking: What is it Like to Stay in a Hut?

Rakiura Track (3 Days Loop)

One of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the Rakiura Track, is a good insight into the landscape of Stewart Island without being too difficult. The walk is a 3-day circuit suitable to do all year round. Along the way, you’ll discover beaches, forest and historical landmarks, such as Port William, Maori Beach and the Paterson Inlet. To get to the Great Walk you need to walk 5km (3 miles) to get to Lee Bay or take a taxi with Aurora Cab Company. The entrance to the national park is obvious from the chain sculpture.

North West Circuit (9-11 Days Loop)

A much tougher walk than the Rakiura Great Walk, make sure you are fit and equipped to walk through long stretches of deep thick mud. Not only that but the walk takes a whopping 9-11 days to complete! Nevertheless, you’ll be rewarded with an undisturbed trek through sandy beaches, sand dunes, rocky beaches, and forest. There are not any huge climbs as the highest you’ll go to is 400m (1,312ft). Start the North West Circuit from the national park entrance at Lee Bay.

Southern Circuit (4-6 Days Loop via Water Taxi/6-10 Days from Oban)

The Southern Circuit gets off to an exciting start by taking the water taxi to Freshwater Landing. Remember to book the water taxi to pick you up at the end of your walk. This walk involves climbs to higher ground, Adams Hill and Doughboy Hill, to get awesome views of the landscape you just passed through. Watch the mighty waves crash against the rugged Doughboy Bay heads. If you take the track via the water taxi, it is 4-6 days. If starting from the end of Main Road in Oban, this adds another 2-4 days.

Coast to Coast (1.5 Days One Way)

Shorten your walk in the Rakiura National Park by coupling it with a flight and water taxi experience. Join Stewart Island Flights for a flight to Mason Bay and stay in the Mason Bay Hut overnight – a popular spot for seeing and hearing kiwi birds. The next day, hike from the Mason Hut to the Freshwater Hut, following the streams, wetlands and sand dunes of Stewart Island. From Freshwater, be transported back to Golden Bay (a 10-minute walk from Oban) with Rakiura Charters & Water Taxi.

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Short Walks from Oban

If you are having a brief stay on Stewart Island, there are a number of short walks starting from the island’s town, Oban.

Oban to Bathing Beach (30 Minutes Return)

A quick 30-minute walk along the northern coast (take Horseshoe Bay Road then Kamahi Road) will bring you to Bathing Beach with crystal clear water and high on the coastline for stunning views.

Fuchsia and Raroa Tracks (1 Hour Return)

To explore the forests inland, head for the Fuchsia and Raroa walking tracks. To get there, turn left outside the national park visitor centre and left onto Dundee Street where the walk is signed. This forested area is complete with 500-year-old rimu trees and New Zealand ferns.

For more details on walks from Oban, check out the 16 Free or Cheap Things to Do on Stewart Island or Stewart Island & Guide for Backpackers.

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Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara

A must-do backpacking Rakiura experience is visiting Ulva Island. A 7-minute water taxi brings you to the sanctuary island where you have a chance to see what New Zealand used to be like before human migration.

Not only is there a network of short walks to impressive lookouts and beaches, but the forested island is completely pest-free. See other wildlife sanctuaries like this in the 10 Best Bird Sanctuaries in New Zealand.

Ulva Island is a safe haven for native New Zealand birds, such as tui, kiwi, weka, oystercatcher, fantail, New Zealand pigeon, kaka parrot and the colourful New Zealand parakeet.

How to Get to Ulva Island

Either visit Ulva Island independently (i.e. walking the trails yourself) or with a guided tour.

To visit independently, take the Ulva Island Ferry & Water Taxi from Golden Bay, approximately 1km (0.6 miles) from Oban (just walk over the hill). Tickets are approximately NZ$20 each.

Alternatively, take a guided tour of the island with a cruise included with RealNZ (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook). These cruises depart from the main wharf in Oban.

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Snorkelling and Diving in Rakiura National Park

Uncrowded waters, except for fish, of course, can be found in the Ulva Island Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve. If you are a certified diver or into snorkelling, make that part of your backpacking Rakiura experience.

Scuba Diving

Diving is rewarding on the northeast side of Ulva Island off Sydney Cove Beach. Make sure a dive knife and flashlight is included in your diving equipment. Also note that a thick wetsuit is mandatory, as the average summer water temperature is 12°C (54°F) dropping to 8°C (46°F) in winter. Although there are no dive operators on Stewart Island, charters like Rakiura Charters & Water Taxi and Rakiura Adventure can take experienced divers to their desired site.

Snorkelling

Paterson Inlet, south of Oban, is another great place to snorkel and dive. Head to Sandhill Bay for a chance to see blue cod, blue moki, trumpeters, wrasses and butterfish. Stewart Island Adventures offers guided snorkelling tours with all of the gear included.

Shark Diving

In summer, do a spot of cage diving with the great white sharks. While in the waters of Stewart Island, the tour with Shark Experience departs from Bluff, a ferry ride away. Find out more about the tour in the 20 Best Things to Do on Stewart Island.