Southern Circuit Track

Separated from the South Island by Foveaux Strait, Stewart Island/Rakiura is New Zealand's third largest island and home to its most southern national park. The island's Southern Circuit Track (4-6 day round trip, 71.5km)is regarded as a remote, challenging tramping experience and requires a high level of fitness and good route-finding skills.

Stewart Island's birdlife is relatively rich compared to the mainland. Around the coast sooty shearwaters (muttonbird/titi)), gulls, mollymawks, cape pigeons and little blue penguins are common. Yellow-eyed penguins and Fiordland crested penguins may also be seen. In the forest trampers are likely to see bellbirds, tui, fantails, parakeets, shining cuckoos, wood pigeons, grey warblers, kaka, tomtits and robins. Stewart Island kiwi are relatively common and are unique in that they can at times be seen during the day..