Stewart Island/Rakiura is one of New Zealand’s great foodie destinations
On a moonless, clear night, gaze south and you’ll have a decent shot at seeing the Aurora Australis dancing along the horizon. Wild, remote, and peaceful, New Zealand’s third island is home to just 400 humans and 20,000 kiwi – you know, the feathered variety.
Just a hop skip and jump away from Invercargill, if Stewart Island hasn’t been at the top of your holiday bucket list, let me tell you, it absolutely should be. Almost 90 per cent national park with many conservation protocols in place, Stewart Island is a place unlike any other. The birdsong here is booming (with kākāpō just next door on satellite island Whenua Hou), the tracks are vast and empty, and the seas are brimming with some of the best kai moana in New Zealand.Unlike the rest of mainland New Zealand, Stewart Island has prevailed in being free from stoats, mice and pigs. This combined with the fact that the inland forests and native bush have remained relatively untouched means that Stewart Island offers us a rare glimpse of what life before humans was like in New Zealand.
While there is still plenty of work to be done to preserve the delicate ecosystems and native flora and fauna, if you’re keen to experience a place where the nature is profound, even loud, head due south now. From boisterous tui to noisy kiwi at night to kākā that come say hello during your morning coffee, the birdlife here is more accessible than most places. See Video
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