Birding & Wildlife

Meet our local wildlife up close and personal on this fully commentated 1 hour cruise around the stunning Southern Bays of Paterson Inlet.

Cruise amongst Stewart Island’s stunning ocean going birds with the birding specialists… View Giant and Cape Petrels, Sooty Shearwaters (Tītī), and the striking albatross, plus Yellow-Eyed, Little Blue and Fiordland Crested penguins, Terns, Skua, Cormorants and more.

A full day combination of Stewart Island’s pelagic (ocean going) and land bird species. View our rare and endangered land birds on Ulva Island, either on your own or with a guide, then cruise the coastline to view our stunning seabirds so accessible to our shores.

See Ulva Island your way! We provide flexible return transport with onboard commentary, leaving you time to explore this unique island at your leisure.

See Ulva Island with the experts: our Ulva Island guides are internationally renowned, and passionate about this open sanctuary’s inhabitants, its unique forest habitat and cultural history; this will be a trip you will never forget.

Explore our local salmon, mussel and oyster farms on a 1 hour cruise around Big Glory Bay in Paterson Inlet. Learn about Stewart Island’s fascinating aquaculture industry and look out for dolphins, yellow eyed penguins and other wildlife.

Water Taxi transfers to or from the Freshwater River Landing – the “Gateway to Mason Bay”, and the Southern and North-West Circuits. This beautiful route is also available as a scenic boat trip.

This unique fly-walk-boat package is a gentle sample of the island’s more rigorous North-West Circuit. A number of options are available, including overnight stays at either the Mason Bay or Freshwater DOC huts. Appealing to any traveller up for a taste of New Zealand in its natural untouched state.

One of our most popular Combo Tours; combine our daily water taxi service up the stunning, winding Freshwater River with a flexible Ulva Island Freedom Walk.

Combine our popular Ulva Island Freedom Walk with a 1 hour cruise of Big Glory’s salmon, mussel and oyster farms. Learn about Stewart Island’s fascinating aquaculture industry and look out for dolphins, yellow eyed penguins and other wildlife.

Enjoy a flexible freedom walk at the Ulva Island open bird sanctuary before exploring the Ross Sea Whaling Company’s 1920’s whale chaser repair station with your knowledgeable skipper and guide.

Let your knowledgeable skipper and guide escort you on a tour of a 1920’s whale chaser repair station, before visiting our local salmon, mussel and oyster farms on this 2 hour cruise. Keep for your eyes open for resident dolphins and yellow eyed penguins.

For a fully customised tour tell us what your ultimate experience would be, or let us surprise you with the best the island has to offer! Whether it’s dolphin watching MORE »

A variety of forest walk and historical site options are available… get out there and completely immerse yourself in Stewart Island’s natural wonders.