A visit to Rakiura/Stewart Island feels like a journey to the ends of the earth. You step off the ferry onto a wooden wharf where fish dart in the shallows, and pick your way along the narrow, bush-clad streets to your holiday crib (or closest cafe). The hillsides ring with bird song, and at night you can even hear twigs crackling as kiwis prowl the undergrowth. Rakiura is full of intriguing wonders. Read on to learn 5 interesting facts about Stewart Island/Rakiura that you might not know.

Contents

1. The Southern Lights
2. Shark alert
3. The name of Rakiura
4. Kiwis on the island
5. Rakiura National park
6. Top tips for visiting

1. The Southern Lights

Rakiura is one of the best places on earth to see the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, similar to the Northern Lights in the Arctic. The best time to see the Aurora Australis is at midnight in clear, moonless skies during winter (June-July). Rakiura is also the southernmost dark sky sanctuary in the world. Enjoy the lack of light pollution and gaze under the stars, or try your hand at night-sky photography.

2. A hotspot for great white sharks

Each December, Edwards Island/Motunui (about 10km north of Rakiura) attracts around 30-40 great white sharks. These sharks congregate to breed, and males fight each other to establish a hierarchy. If you’re at Edwards Island, don’t go diving in peak shark seasons: generally in December to January, and August.

3. What really inspired the name of Rakiura?

The original Māori name of Rakiura was Te Punga-o-te-Waka-a-Maui (the anchor stone of the waka of Maui), referring to the traditional Māori legend where Maui fished up the North Island (Te Ika-a-Maui/the fish of Maui). His waka (canoe) become Te Waipounamu/the South Island, and the anchor became Rakiura/Stewart Island.

The Māori name, Rakiura (raki: sky, ura: glowing) is often misleadingly directly attributed to the southern lights. The name actually hails from a tale of an early chief, Te Rakitamau. It is said that Te Rakitamau asked to marry a daughter from a high-ranking Kati Mamoe family, but was turned down. He asked for the hand of the second daughter, but she too was promised to another. Te Rakitamau blushed bright red with embarrassment. Te raki ura o Te Rakitamau or The great and deep blushing of Te Rakitamau was shortened to Rakiura. Today, it is said that you can see the blush of Te Rakitamau in the fiery sunsets and Aurora.

The English name of Stewart Island was given in honour of William Stewart, who charted many of the southern coasts while onboard the sealer, the Pegasus, in the early 1800s.

Want to know the meanings of common Māori place names? Learn some more words here.

4. Kiwi-town

Rakiura is one of the few places where you can see brown kiwi (tokoeka) beside houses and trotting along the roadside. Apparently, there are an estimated 33 kiwis for every resident (the human population numbers around 400, so that’s a lot of kiwis!).

When it’s dark, cover your torch with red cellophane so it doesn’t scare the birds, and quietly go for a stroll around town. Often, you hear kiwis before you see them. Listen for cracking twigs and rustles in the undergrowth.

5. A wild wonderland

Rakiura is one of a kind. From golden bays and rocky coasts to dense bushland where saddleback birds dance in the canopy, you see a glimpse into how New Zealand might have looked before human arrival. There’s only one main town, Oban, and a handful of smaller settlements around the northern coastline.

Did you know about 85% of Stewart Island land area is a National Park? No wonder it’s a hotspot for wildlife! Ulva Island nearby is also a popular destination for nature lovers (a must-do!). Because it has no introduced predators (rats, mustelids, cats, deer, goats, pigs, etc.), it thrives with a variety of native birds.

Other Tips

How do I get to Rakiura/Stewart Island?
Rakiura is a 60-minute ferry ride from Bluff (bring your seasick pills if you tend to get queasy). Alternatively, you can fly from Invercargill.

What are my accommodation options?
Rakiura has a range of boutique hotels, lodges, and even a campground (see expedia.com). But for a truly unique experience, I recommend booking a holiday crib (via bookabach). This way you experience the natural beauty of the island in all its wonder, whether you opt for somewhere near the beach, or a crib surrounded by lush ferns and rata trees. Plus, your local hosts can provide great tips on the best food and sightseeing options nearby.

How do I reach Ulva Island?
Take a picturesque 15-minute ferry from Golden Bay. Turn up 10 mins before the sailing time at the Golden Bay wharf and pay cash on the spot- no booking required (first in, first serve). $20 return per adult, $10 per child (as of writing).

Golden Bay is about a 15-minute walk from Halfmoon Bay. For times and more information click here or ask at the Stewart Island Information Centre. You can also take a water taxi to Ulva Island by arrangement.

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