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Great Hike |
| Start: | Victoria Railway Hotel in Invercargill, 6:00pm |
| Finish: | Invercargill Airport at 1:50pm |
| Length: | 4.5 days |
| Grade: | B (Average of 4-5 hrs physical activity per day) |
| Price: | NZ$1795 |
| Departs: | Weekly (Nov - April) - see Departures |
Please click on the map to enlarge it
Highlights: Stewart Island offers the best chance most people will ever have to see New Zealand's national bird, the kiwi, in its natural environment. Starting in Invercargill, travel by light plane to Mason Bay on the West Coast of Stewart Island. Over the next four days you will walk and water taxi your way across the Island to Halfmoon Bay. Here you have a chance to meet a few of the locals before completing your journey back to Invercargill.
Day 1: Meet your guide in the evening for a meal and discuss the days ahead. Stay in the Victoria Railway Hotel in Invercargill , a restored historic Hotel. Rental cars and any excess luggage can be left at the hotel. Shuttles are available from Queenstown and Te Anau.
Day 2: Fly from Invercargill to Mason Bay on Stewart Island. Walk along this sweeping beach to the campsite at Mason Bay Hut. In the evening you can attempt to spot one of the local residents - a kiwi. 4 hours hiking.
Day 3: Follow the Stewart Island track across the island to Freshwater River. Scrub covered sand dunes, head high tussock and manuka house many native birds, including kiwis, robins and parakeets. At Freshwater on the high tide, meet the water taxi for a half-hour ride down Freshwater River and across Paterson Inlet to Halfmoon Bay. 4 hours hiking.
Day 4: Today you can explore Paterson Inlet by sea kayak, water taxi and foot including a visit to Ulva Island, an open sanctuary playing an important role in the conservation of threatened species. 3 hours sea kayaking, 3 hours hiking.
Day 5: Explore Halfmoon Bay. Try one of many short walks, visit a local craft gallery, or just soak up the island ambience. In the afternoon fly to Invercargill for the completion of our journey. 2 hours hiking.
Click here for the detailed trip dossier
This trip goes well with the following tours:
- Fault-Line Adventure
- Footsteps of Sir Mawson
- Hollyford Walk
- Hump Ridge Track
- Sub Antarctic Islands
- West Coast Wilderness
"Stewart Island Track - go kiwi spotting on Stewart Island, New Zealand"
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