Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre ( 03-219 0009; www.doc.govt.nz; 15 Main Rd, Oban;
8am-5pm Oct-Mar, shorter hours in winter) has useful information on the island and good dis-
plays on flora and fauna, and you can store gear here while you're tramping ($10 for a small
locker, $20 for a large one).
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Rakiura Track
Duration 3 days
Distance 39km (24 miles)
Track Standard Great Walk
Difficulty Moderate
Start/End Oban ( Click here )
Transport None required
Summary Connecting the beginning and the end of the North West Circuit, this Great Walk
provides a shorter and easier loop, and features the sheltered shores of Paterson Inlet and the
beautiful beaches on the way to Port William.
Built in 1986, the Rakiura Track is a peaceful and leisurely loop offering a rewarding com-
bination of coastal scenery, native forest, historical interest and diverse bird life including
forest songbirds, soaring seabirds and beaky waders.
Rakiura Track is actually only 32km long, but adding the road sections at either end
bumps it up to 39km, conveniently forming a circuit from Oban. As it provides the only
short loop in Rakiura National Park (all the others require seven to 10 days), the track is the
most popular Stewart Island tramp, with around 3500 people walking it annually. Also, be-
cause it is a Great Walk, it has been gravelled to eliminate most of the mud for which the is-
land is famous.
This tramp is described here as crossing from Port William to North Arm, the easiest dir-
ection to walk it, especially if starting later in the day.
 
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