Trip Details

The Rakiura Great Walk is classified as one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. An enjoyable and varied outdoor adventure. It is a relatively easy three-day walk, mainly through regenerating native forest, with beautiful coastal sections and sites of historical significance. The walk is a loop from Oban, Halfmoon Bay, to Port William, North Arm (Paterson Inlet), returning to Halfmoon Bay. Find out more in our trip itinerary below.

LOCATION

Rakiura Great Walk, Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island.

ACCOMMODATION ON THE HIKE

We stay at Port William Hut and North Arm Hut. These are operated by the Department of Conservation and our bunk space is pre-booked. Facilities are shared with other independent hikers.

Facilities at the huts include: Sleeping area, separated from kitchen/communal area. The sleeping area is partitioned into two areas with 12 bunks each. The bunks have mattresses. The kitchen has work benches, sinks with cold running water, tables and seating. There is an outside washbasin with cold running water and long drop toilets.

FOOD ON OUR TRIP

We provide healthy meals and snacks (plus the sweet things too), with local seafood where possible. We cater for most dietary requirements.

Meals on our trips include:
Day 1: Lunch, pre-dinner snacks, dinner, hot drinks. Snacks during the day.
Day 2: Breakfast, lunch, pre-dinner snacks, dinner, hot drinks. Snacks during the day.
Day 3: Breakfast, lunch. Snacks during the day.

WEAR AND BRING

Carry a light pack, we recommend 30 - 35 litres with your personal belongings, light sleeping bag and space for lunch and snacks for the day.  See: Wear and Bring.
We operate an Outdoor Shop (Gear Hire / Purchases).

PACKAGE OPTION

Contact us for customised packages to include travel to and from Stewart Island by ferry or plane and accommodation before and / or after your guided walk.

Other Recommended Tours

We recommend doing the following tours to compliment your Rakiura Great Walk:

BIRDS SEEN

More commonly seen birds include:

Land birds: Tui, bellbird, South Island tomtit, fantail, grey warbler, red-crowned parakeet, South Island kaka, wood pigeon, kingfisher.

Shore birds: Black-backed gull, red-billed gull, variable oystercatcher, white-face heron, paradise shelduck.

WILDLIFE SEEN

New Zealand sealion, fur seals are seen occasionally.

FLORA

The flora is varied from coastal to inland forest and comprises original and regenerating sections of mixed hardwood podocarp forest and manuka. Ferns, mosses, and a variety of orchids are present.

Testimonial

"...We leave with wonderful memories of a unique NZ environment, thanks to the passion Furhana has for imparting her knowledge and understanding of the area. As our guide she ensured we were safe, well fed (actually, extremely well fed!) and aware of all the spectacular vistas we were passing. The highlight was being up close and personal with a kiwi on our last day..."

Itinerary

  • Day Prior to your Hike

    Meet at the Ruggedy Range™ Booking Office for our trip briefing.

    This is an opportunity to meet your guide and other participants. We provide some general information about your hike, ensure you have the right gear for the trip, inform you about what is involved and answer any questions. The trip briefing is a mandatory part of our tour, for approximately 1.5 hours and generally held the day prior to your tour from 5.00  to 7.00 pm.  

  • Day 1

    Take a scenic road trip to Lee Bay. Subject to client preferences we take the side trip up Garden Mound (approx. 1.5 hours climbing to 162 metres) where we enjoy the stunning surrounding views.

    Continue on the coastal track through regenerating forest to picturesque Little River.  Enjoy superb views over Williams Bay before descending to Maori Beach, once the site of a Maori village and Stewart Island's last sawmill site. This lovely stretch of curved golden beach, with its small estuary and tannin stained creek has reverted to wilderness. Enjoy a delicious lunch at Maori Beach, time to enjoy the golden sands and stories of early European history, plus a peak at the historic sawmill site.

    We continue along the track, past lush tree ferns and ground ferns with tall podocarp trees to Port William Hut, overlooking Magnetic Beach.

    Time for a swim for those who like cool waters or relax and enjoy the seaviews and sealife around the jetty!  We may also explore the surrounding area on a short walk.

    In the evening we may try out luck at spotting a kiwi (kiwi are wild birds and sightings are not guaranteed).

  • Day 2

    We hike along the inland track, past historic sawmill haulers, over bridges straddling small creeks, through beautiful native forest laden with rich carpets of mosses and ferns in a truly wilderness setting. We climb up from a gully and over the top, before descending through a windswept forest to North Arm Hut.

    North Arm is a peaceful location overlooking Paterson Inlet with an interesting beach environment, only one minute walk from the Hut.

    Enjoy a stroll around the area or if the weather is right take a swim.

    In the evening we may try our luck at spotting a kiwi (kiwi are wild birds and sightings are not guaranteed).

  • Day 3

    We follow the northern shore of Paterson Inlet, through towering and windswept native forest. We hike past Kidney Fern Arm and Kaipipi Bay, former sawmill sites, now showing little evidence of their past history and onto Oban in Halfmoon Bay.

    On your hike, immerse yourself in the tranquility and superb views of Paterson Inlet!

    Time permitting and subject to client preference, we may walk to Oban, via the coastal Ryans Creek Track.

RAKIURA 3DAY IMG 7231
Ruggedy Range™
Clients hiking from North Arm

Pricing & info

Adult

NZ $1,550.00 per person + international visitors pay $40 extra charge for hut fees. 

Child

NZ $1,100.00 per person + international visitors pay $56 charge for hut fees. 

Includes

Trip briefing, guided hike, transfer to start of track, meals, snacks, hot drinks, hut/camp fees, use eating and cooking equipment, Department of Conservation fees, admin costs.

Min Persons

8 persons

Important: If your booking is for less than the minimum, check to see if we have achieved the minimum or, we can reserve spaces, whilst we await further bookings.

Max Persons

12 persons

Duration

3 days + 2 nights

Distance

Day 1: 8 kms (4 miles) to Port William, plus side trips, approx. 4 kms (2 miles)
Day 2: 13 kms (8 miles) Port William to North Arm Hut
Day 3: 12 kms (7 miles) to Oban, plus optional side trip, approx. 5 kms (3 miles)

Terrain

Well formed gravel track, undulating with steps, short stretches of beach.

Elevation from sea level to approx.:
Day 1: 100 / 150 metres
Day 2: 200 metres
Day 3: 100 metres

Time

Day 1: 8.30 / 9.00 am
Day 2: Returning approx. 3.30 / 4.00 pm

Start/End

Ruggedy Range™ Booking Office

Suitable for

Good fitness essential.
Not suitable for children below the age of 10 years.

Departure Dates

Below are the remaining dates for our guided Rakiura Great Walk dates for the coming season to June 2024. 
Draft dates have been published for the next season July 2024 to June 2025.  Actual tour dates will be dependent on hut spaces secured when the Department of Conservation opens their online Great Walk Hut Bookings - which they are yet to advertise. 

Additional dates may be available (including off-season) subject to feasibility and staff availability. Please contact us.

MONTH 2023- 2024 Season
FEBRUARY 2024 11th to 13th Feb
18th to 20th Feb
26th to 28th Feb
MARCH 2024 3rd to 5th Mar
19th to 21st Mar
23rd to 25th Mar
APRIL 2024 1st to 3rd Apr
7th to 9th Apr
SEPTEMBER 2024  Please enquire.
OCTOBER 2024 9th to 11th Oct
20th to 22nd Oct
 25th to 27th Oct
NOVEMBER 2024

10th to 12th Nov
 22nd to 24th Nov
28th to 30th Nov

DECEMBER 2024

8th to 10th Dec
15th to 17th Dec 
21st to 23rd Dec 

JANUARY 2025 12th to 14th Jan
19th to 21st Jan
26th to 27th Jan 
FEBRUARY 2025  1st to 3rd Feb
8th to 10th Feb
16th to 18th Feb
23rd to 25th Feb
MARCH 2025 2nd to 4th Mar
9th to 11th Mar
16th to 18th Mar 
23rd to 25th Mar
 
APRIL 2025 6th to 8th Apr
13th to 15th Apr 

Ulva Island Birds & Forest Guided Walk

Our Ulva Island Birds & Forest Guided Walk is an excellent compliment to our Rakiura Great Walk.  

We provide an informative and enjoyable tour of Ulva Island, an opportunity to view rare and endangered native birds and time to explore our natural forest, its flora, exquisite orchids in season, mosses and ferns. Discover what makes our natural environment special. 

Kiwi Journey

Our trips provide an opportunity to discover kiwi habitat, listen to a kiwi calling in the night and with some luck actually seeing a kiwi. More than just a kiwi spotting trip, we provide a chance for you to view an array of ecosystems and wilderness habitats, from east to west and across Stewart Island’s interior, and to see other native birds and plants.

Duration 2 days + 1 night
Fitness Moderate