South of the South, Stunning Stewart Island

Itinerary

DAY ONE                                                                 D  

Discover Stewart Island. Leaving Tauranga, we fly as a group to Invercargill. Arriving in the afternoon, we will book into our accommodation, meet for a drink, then enjoy a lovely meal as a group, ready for our exciting day to come.  

DAY TWO                                                                B, D  

You may want to have some sea legs medication if you suffer from motion sickness on the boat.This morning we make our way to Bluff for our ferry crossing to Stewart Island. On arrival, we will book into accommodation then the time is yours to have lunch at the Southsea's Hotel or the quirky French Cafe'. We will gather in the afternoon to board the bus for an informative tour of the village and surrounding bays, including the unique flora and fauna of Lee Bay, the beautiful Horseshoe Bay and Observation Rock. Keep your eyes peeled for the Rakiura Grey Ghost or even a Kiwi mooching along with one of the secluded beaches. Then it's time for a drink with the locals followed by a yummy meal of Blue Cod perhaps. 

DAY THREE                                                             B, L, D  

Enjoy some free time after breakfast for a wander on nearby short walk tracks and or spend a moment to look through the brand new Rakiura Museum located right beside the DOC Information Centre. Later that morning, we will Discover Stewart Island from the water on a leisurely cruise of beautiful Paterson Inlet and a guided walk in Ulva Island Wildlife Sanctuary. The journey will showcase some of Paterson Inlet's stunning scenery with its hidden coves and unspoilt beaches. You'll hear fascinating stories of early Maori history and European settlement from your guide as we pass various landmarks. Our guide is passionate about the area, providing informative commentary and being more than happy to answer questions. While on board, keep a lookout for fur seals and penguins – we see many of them around this area. Paterson Inlet is home to renowned wildlife sanctuary Ulva Island, and we'll stop there for a 45-minute guided walk. The island is home to Weka (native wooden), bush robins, rare saddlebacks and yellow heads, amongst other species. It is also a protected habitat for some of New Zealand's unique plant species. A regular highlight is to encounter an inquisitive Weka on the beach. For the remainder of the cruise around Paterson Inlet, relax onboard our modern catamaran and enjoy the coastal scenery before heading back to base. 

DAY FOUR                                                              B, MT, D  

You may want to have some sea legs medication if suffer from motion sickness on the boat.After breakfast, we board the ferry for the 1hr crossing back to Bluff. Once we land and meet our local guide, we then travel to a café for morning tea before departing on our exploration of Bluff, Invercargill, and its surroundings, taking in some of the historical points of interest of the country towns and their people. A full-day tour, stopping for lunch along the way to explore the new huge Transport World, returning to our accommodation mid-afternoon to relax and meet for our last dinner together. 

DAY FIVE                                                                 B