Rakiura Track

Getting to the Rakiura Track:

To get to Oban, the only township on Stewart Island/Rakiura, you can take a 20-minute flight from Invercargill or a 1-hour ferry trip across Foveaux Strait from the southern port of Bluff. In Oban you’ll find accommodation, supplies, equipment hire and transport to and from the start of the track.

Step through the chain link sculpture commissioned to commemorate the forming of the Rakiura National Park to start your island adventure. Enjoy stunning coastal views as the track makes its way from Lee Bay to picturesque Little River. Rounding the tip of Peters Point brings you to Maori Beach. From here, it is a sweeping beach walk to the swing bridge, before climbing up the forested ridge and dropping down into Magnetic Beach and Port William Hut.

Port William Hut

Fare per night during Great Walks season is $70 for New Zealand citizens, $140 for international visitors.

Say farewell to the east coast as you make your way through beautiful regenerating podocarp forest, as well as lush and dense virgin forest. Take a breather at the log haulers: massive machines that were used to drag forest giants from the depths of the gullies. The track descends to North Arm, an important food gathering (mahinga kai) site for early Māori, on the shore of Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera.

North Arm Hut

Fare per night during Great Walks season is $70 for New Zealand citizens, $140 for international visitors.

A moderate and undulating walk takes you through kāmahi and rimu with stunning vistas across the inlet. The track then follows the coast down to secluded bays and is interspersed with historic mill sites. Sawdust Bay has tidal mudflats, making it a great spot to watch wading birds feeding at low tide. Then it is on to Kaipipi Bay, where a small grassy knoll on the water’s edge provides views across the sheltered waterway. The track ends at the Main Road/Fern Gully car park. From here it is 2 km to Oban.