Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Overnight Tramps
Rakiura Track
TRAMPING
(
www.doc.govt.nz
)
One of NZ's nine Great Walks, the 39km, three-day Rakiura Track is a
peaceful and leisurely loop which sidles around beautiful beaches before climbing over a
250m-high forested ridge and traversing the sheltered shores of Paterson Inlet/Whaka a
Te Wera. It passes sites of historical interest and introduces many of the common sea-
and forest birds of the island.
Rakiura Track is actually only 32km long, but adding in the road sections at either end
bumps it up to 39km, conveniently forming a circuit from Oban. It's a well-defined cir-
cuit requiring a moderate level of fitness, suitable for tramping year-round. Being a Great
Walk, it has been gravelled to eliminate most of the mud for which the island is infam-
ous.
There are two Great Walk huts ($22) en route, which need to be booked in advance,
the national park visitor centre. There is a limit of two consecutive nights in any one hut.
Camping ($6) is permitted at the Standard campsites near the huts, and also at Maori
Beach.
North West Circuit Track
TRAMPING
(
www.doc.govt.nz
)
The North West Circuit Track is Stewart Island/Rakiura's legendary
tramp, a demanding coastal epic around a remote and natural coastline featuring isolated
beaches, sand dunes, birds galore and miles of mud. It's 125km and takes 10 to 12 days,
although there are several options for shortening it involving boats and planes.
The track begins and ends in Oban. There are well-spaced huts along the way, all of
which are Standard ($5) except for two Great Walk Huts ($22) which must be booked in
advance. A North West Circuit Pass ($35) provides for a night in each of the backcountry
huts. Detailed information and essential topographical maps are available from DOC;
and do register your intentions at the Adventuresmart website
(
www.adventuresmart.org.nz
) as this is no easy walk in the park.
Tours
Ulva's Guided Walks
WALKING TOUR
( 03-219 1216;
www.ulva.co.nz
)
Focused firmly on birding and guided by expert natural-
ists, these excellent half-day tours ($125; transport included) explore Ulva Island. Book
