Cross the Foveaux Strait to Rakiura — New Zealand's wildest and most remote island
Stewart Island — known to Māori as Rakiura, meaning "land of the glowing skies" — is New Zealand's third-largest island and one of its most extraordinary destinations. Sitting at the bottom of the South Island, separated from the mainland by the wild Foveaux Strait, it is a place where nature remains almost entirely untouched. Eighty-five percent of the island is protected as Rakiura National Park, making it one of the most pristine wilderness areas in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Foveaux Express is a modern high-speed catamaran that makes the crossing from Bluff to Oban in approximately one hour. The vessel carries up to 120 passengers and operates three times daily in each direction. The strait is known for its powerful currents and changeable weather — it is, after all, one of the most southern stretches of inhabited ocean on earth — but the modern catamaran handles conditions confidently.
On calm days, the crossing is spectacular: the deep blue Southern Ocean stretches to the horizon, albatross and other seabirds wheel overhead, and the green outline of Stewart Island gradually emerges from the sea mist. Even on rough days, there is something thrilling about crossing this wild stretch of water, knowing that the next stop south is Antarctica.
Stewart Island is one of the only places on earth where you can see kiwi in the wild. Unlike their mainland cousins, the Stewart Island brown kiwi (tokoeka) are active during the day as well as at night, feeding on the beaches at dusk. Guided tours to Ocean Beach offer an almost-guaranteed kiwi encounter — an experience that many visitors describe as the highlight of their time in New Zealand.
Beyond kiwi, the island is home to an astonishing variety of birdlife: kākā, tūī, bellbirds, yellow-eyed penguins, blue penguins, and dozens of seabird species. The surrounding waters are rich with marine life including fur seals, sea lions, dolphins, and occasionally whales. Ulva Island, a predator-free sanctuary accessible by water taxi from Oban, is one of the finest open-air aviaries in the world.
In 2022, Stewart Island was designated a Dark Sky Sanctuary — one of only a handful in the world. With virtually no artificial light pollution, the night skies here are extraordinary. The Milky Way blazes overhead in incredible detail, and on clear autumn and winter nights, the aurora australis (Southern Lights) dances across the southern horizon. The name Rakiura — "land of the glowing skies" — takes on a very literal meaning.
Bluff is located about 30 minutes south of Invercargill by car. The ferry terminal is well-signposted and has parking available. Book your ferry in advance, especially during the summer months (December to February) when the island is most popular. The Foveaux Strait can be rough, so if you're sensitive to motion sickness, take precautions.
Oban, the island's only settlement, has a small general store, a few excellent restaurants, a handful of accommodation options, and a wonderfully friendly community of around 400 permanent residents. There are no traffic lights, no fast food outlets, and no chain stores. That's exactly the point.
Book your Bluff to Oban ferry and experience New Zealand's last great wilderness.
Book Bluff → Oban