Last updated November 2026
Across Foveaux Strait, about 30 km south-west of Bluff, most of Stewart Island/Rakiura is national park. Rakiura National Park was established in 2002 and covers 157,000 hectares, about 85 percent of the island. It takes in beaches, sheltered inlets and coastal forest on an island that the Department of Conservation says has an almost complete cover of natural vegetation.
Kiwi, weka, penguins and seals all live here. The island is a 20-minute flight from Invercargill Airport or a one-hour ferry ride from Bluff, and the Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre is in Oban. Dogs are not allowed in the park.
Practical Information
- Location
- Stewart Island/Rakiura, about 30 km south-west of Bluff across Foveaux Strait
- Distance from the city
- About 75 km from Invercargill; 20-minute flight from Invercargill Airport or one-hour ferry from Bluff
- Size
- 157,000 hectares, about 85 percent of the island (Department of Conservation)
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Visitor centre
- Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre, 15 Main Road, Oban
- Walking times
- Rakiura Track Great Walk: 32 km, 3 days
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Status
- Department of Conservation: Rakiura National Park page
About Rakiura National Park
New Zealand’s third largest island lies between latitudes 46 and 47 degrees south, and its national park takes in most of it.
About 400 people live permanently in Halfmoon Bay and around Oban; DOC calls Halfmoon Bay the island’s only settlement, with a DOC visitor centre, a general store and accommodation. Fishing for cod, gathering pāua and crayfish, salmon and mussel farming and tourism keep the community going.
The park itself is mostly wild coast and forest. DOC lists seals, penguins, kiwi and weka among its wildlife, along with sooty shearwater (tītī, or muttonbird) and the southern dotterel (pukunui), a bird DOC describes as in trouble.
Hunting, fishing, boating, cruises and scenic flights are all on offer, and deer hunters are active year-round with a permit from the visitor centre or online.
The name Rakiura is often translated as “The Land of Glowing Skies”, which DOC says probably refers to the southern lights, the aurora australis, and the sunsets. Another name, Te Puka a te Waka a Māui, calls the island the anchor of Māui’s canoe, and a chain link sculpture at Lee Bay marks that story.
History of the Island
Archaeological digs show Māori living on the island from the 13th century. Hunting camps (kaika) were set up at coastal sites such as Port William/Potirepo and Freshwater River, reached by outrigger canoe, and Pa Whakataka was an early settlement at Port William.
When Crown agents bought the island from Rakiura Māori in 1864, harvesting rights to the tītī were protected, and Rakiura Māori later became kaitiaki of more than 10,000 hectares of land and the tītī islands.
The crew of Cook’s Endeavour sighted the island in 1770 and mapped it as a cape joined to the South Island. Sealers set up a mixed-race settlement on Codfish Island in 1818, a shipbuilding venture was tried at Port Pegasus/Pikihatiti in 1826, and gold prospecting, tin mining and commercial fishing followed.
Sawmills opened at Kaipipi in Paterson Inlet in 1861, Ulva Island had a post office from 1872 to 1923, and Mason Bay became the site of the island’s last major farm. The European name comes from William Stewart, an officer on the sealing ship Pegasus.
Tracks and Places to Visit
The Rakiura Track is the island’s Great Walk, 32 km over three days. DOC also names the North West and Southern circuits, and asks walkers to call in at the visitor centre in Oban before starting any longer walk.
Closer to Oban, DOC points visitors to Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara, a pest-free sanctuary of unspoiled rainforest with rare birds and plants, surrounded by the Ulva Island-Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve. Glory Cove Scenic Reserve is a kiwi protection area where you may see kiwi in the wild.
Weather and Planning
DOC warns that southern weather can be wild, wet and windy at any time of year, and that strong winds can come up quickly. Average temperatures are about 15°C in summer and 9°C in winter, with around 1,600 mm of rain a year. Tell someone your plans before heading into the park.
The island has one ATM, usable only in shop hours and not for overseas credit cards, though most operators take Eftpos, Visa and Mastercard. DOC has had no reports of giardia, but advises treating stream water or filling containers before leaving huts. Drones need a permit, and fishing must follow the Te Whaka a Te Wera Mātaitai Reserve bylaws.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Rakiura National Park: park information, history, wildlife, rules and the visitor centre. Park information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Department of Conservation: Stewart Island/Rakiura: getting to the island, Ulva Island, Glory Cove, hunting permits, weather and visitor tips. Island information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Rakiura National Park from Invercargill?
Fly 20 minutes from Invercargill Airport to Stewart Island/Rakiura, or take the one-hour ferry from Bluff.
How big is Rakiura National Park?
157,000 hectares, about 85 percent of Stewart Island/Rakiura.
When was the park established?
In 2002.
Can I see kiwi?
Kiwi live in the park, and DOC says you may see them in the wild at Glory Cove Scenic Reserve, a kiwi protection area.
What walks are there?
The Rakiura Track Great Walk is 32 km over three days. Call in at the visitor centre in Oban before any longer walk.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Dogs are not permitted in the park.
What does Rakiura mean?
It is often translated as “The Land of Glowing Skies”, which DOC says probably refers to the aurora australis and the sunsets.
What is the weather like?
DOC says it can be wild, wet and windy at any time of year, with average temperatures of about 15°C in summer and 9°C in winter.
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