Rakiura Track: Stewart Island Great Walk Guide

Overview

The Rakiura Track is a 32 km, 3-day loop on Stewart Island / Rakiura, New Zealand's third-largest island. It starts and ends near Oban, the island's only town. The circuit follows open coastline, crosses forested interior and wanders along the sheltered shores of Paterson Inlet. It's open year-round. Parts of the track cross Māori land, and access is by courtesy of the owners.

It's a gentle introduction to multi-day tramping, with birdsong, beaches and old sawmilling relics. Stewart Island has many kiwi, so you have a real chance of hearing or seeing Rakiura tokoeka (Stewart Island kiwi).

Track sections

Day 1 passes through the giant chain-link sculpture at Lee Bay, the official park entrance, then follows the coast to Maori Beach, where you can see a rusting steam boiler from the sawmilling days, and on to Port William / Potirepo.

Day 2 backtracks 40 minutes to the junction, then crosses the forested interior on old logging tramlines to North Arm. This is the muddiest section: after rain, mud can come above your boots for up to 500 m at a time, so wear gaiters and consider poles.

Day 3 follows Paterson Inlet past old sawmill sites at Sawdust Bay and Kaipipi Bay, then along the old Kaipipi Road back toward Oban.

Huts and campsites

There are two huts (Port William and North Arm) and three campsites (Maori Beach, Port William and North Arm). All must be booked in advance year-round, with a maximum of 2 nights at each. The campsites aren't next to the huts, and campers can't use hut facilities. Each campsite has a cooking shelter, water and a toilet.

The huts have no gas, lighting or toilet paper, so bring a stove, fuel, candles and toilet paper.

Wildlife

• Coast: Tītī (sooty shearwaters), Buller's mollymawk, shags and little blue penguins
• Forest: Kākā, kākāriki, tūī, bellbirds, kererū and tomtits
• Paterson Inlet flats: NZ dotterel, oystercatchers and godwits
• Kiwi: Look for footprints, and listen at night. Use a red light, and never use flash.

History

Māori established kaika (hunting camps) at many coastal sites. Port William / Potirepo was the site of the early settlement of Pā Whakataka. Later came sealers, whalers, a short-lived Shetland Islander settlement, and sawmills: at Kaipipi from 1861, and at Maori Beach until 1931. In the 1920s and 30s a Norwegian whaling company serviced its Antarctic chaser boats in Prices Inlet.

Getting there

• To the island: A 20-minute flight from Invercargill, or a 1-hour ferry from Bluff across Foveaux Strait
• To the track: Walk from Oban to Lee Bay (5 km) or Fern Gully (2 km), or use shuttles and water taxis. Boat access to North Arm depends on the tide.
• Oban has accommodation, supplies, gear hire and transport.

Good to know

Stewart Island weather is very changeable, with wind, hail and heavy rain possible at any time of year. Mobile coverage is limited to the township, so carry a distress beacon. No dogs.