Upon your arrival into Invercargill, you will check in at your hotel/motel, these details with be provided to you upon booking.
At 6:00pm there will be a pre-trip briefing with your guide, followed by a delightful evening meal. Invercargill is located 170km from Queenstown and 190km from Te Anau, with shuttle services available from both locations.
You'll be notified of your accommodation at the time of booking, which will be a central hotel or motel.
Departure time changes with the tide (literally!). Fly by light plane from Invercargill airport to Mason Bay passing Codfish Island, an important Kakapo sanctuary.
Landing on Mason Bay beach we take some time to explore this isolated wonderland walking to the Mason Bay Hut, the one night where we "rough it", camping alongside the Mason Bay Hut.
This evening we will see if we can spot one of the local residents, a kiwi. Stewart Island Kiwi, or Tokoeka in Māori, are unique in that they are sometimes seen during the day. It is estimated that about a third of New Zealand's Kiwi live on Stewart Island so this is one of the best places to see one in the wild.
Mason Bay is the one of the most acclaimed spots in New Zealand for a rare sight of Kiwi in their natural state. Tonight, you camp out next to the hut and fall asleep to the sound of lapping waves from the beach a short walk from camp. Facilities are basic in this wilderness campsite but your stay will be comfortable.
An easy (flat) walk across the island to Freshwater. Massive sand dunes, head high tussock and manuka trees house many native birds, including kiwis and robins. At Freshwater Landing meet the water taxi for a half-hour ride down Freshwater River and across Paterson Inlet to Halfmoon Bay. Tonight stay in a classic Southland "crib" or holiday home with power and a shower. Dinner is generally fresh Salmon caught that day!
A classic Kiwi holiday home in Halfmoon Bay welcomes you back to civilisation. Here you can enjoy the luxuries of electricity, a hot shower and flushing toilets. All bed linen and towels are provided.
Today we explore Oban and Paterson Inlet by foot and water taxi. In the morning (this can alter depending on the weather) we take a walk to Ackers Point exploring historic buildings on our way to the lighthouse.
Then we visit Ulva Island, an open sanctuary playing an important role in the conservation of threatened species. Birds we may see include the weka, kākā, kakariki, kākupa, mohua and tieke. This is our second night in Halfmoon Bay.
Enjoy a second night in a "classic" Southland crib or holiday home.
Time to explore Halfmoon Bay. Try one of the many short walks, visit a local craft gallery, or just soak up the island ambiance. In the afternoon (generally the 1:30pm flight) fly to Invercargill for the completion of your journey. You can choose to stay an extra night or two on Stewart Island or back at the hotel in Invercargill (own cost).
