Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
porous soil, most of the island is a lush forest, thick with vines and carpeted in deep
green ferns and mosses.
Sights
Ulva Island
ISLAND
A tiny paradise covering only 250 hectares, Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara is a great place
to see lots of birds. Established as a bird sanctuary in 1922, it remains one of Stewart Is-
land/Rakiura's wildest corners - 'a rare taste of how NZ once was and perhaps could be
again', according to DOC. The island was declared rat free in 1997 and three years later
was chosen as the site to release endangered South Island saddlebacks. Today the air is
alive with birdsong, which can be appreciated on walking tracks in the island's northwest
as detailed in
Ulva: Self-Guided Tour
($2), available from the DOC visitor centre. Many
paths intersect amid beautiful stands of rimu, miro, totara and rata. Any water-taxi com-
pany will run you to the island from Golden Bay wharf, with scheduled services run by
Ulva Island Ferry
( 03-219 1013; return adult/child $20/10; departs 9am, noon & 4pm; re-
turns noon, 4pm & 6pm)
. To get the most out of Ulva Island, go on a tour with Ulva's
Guided Walks (
Click here
)
.
Rakiura Museum
MUSEUM
(Ayr St; adult/child $2/50c; 10am-1.30pm Mon-Sat, noon-2pm Sun)
Historic photographs are
stars of this small museum focused on local natural and human history, and featuring
Maori artifacts, whaling gear and household items.
Presbyterian Church
CHURCH
(Kamahi Rd)
This wooden church has perched on a knoll overlooking the bay since 1904.
One local wagers that shipwrights had a hand in its building: 'some of the joints are a
pleasure to behold.'
Activities
Rakiura National Park protects 85% of the island, making it a mecca for trampers and
bird-watchers. There are plenty of tracks on which to explore the wilderness, ranging
