Stewart Island

The original Maori name, Te Punga o Te Waka a Maui positions Stewart Island firmly at the heart of Maori mythology. Translated as “The Anchor Stone of Maui’s Canoe”, it refers to the part played by this Island in the legend of Maui and his crew, who from their canoe, the South Island, caught and raised the great fish, the North Island.

Rakiura is, however, the more commonly known and used Maori name. It is usually translated as "Glowing Skies", possibly a reference to the sunsets for which Stewart Island is famous or for the aurora australis the Southern Lights that are a phenomenon of our Southern latitudes.

Stewart Island has been rather modestly christened “The Home of the Kiwi” It is much more than that ! Examination of the following list of birds will show that we have the highest number of easily accessible species in New Zealand.

We are unique in that in just one day, with a pelagic cruise, a visit to Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary, followed by a Kiwi Spotting Trip, one can usually access over 30 species. Bonus additions on these trips can be, Bottlenose Dolphin, N.Z. Fur Seal, N.Z. (Hookers) Sealion, the occasional Sea Elephant and the very very occasional whale. Truly, Stewart Island deserves to be termed ‘The Birding Capital of New Zealand” ~ the place to begin your “New Zealand Birding Tour.”