Tranquility of Stewart Island

Stewart Island
This blog is dedicated to my dao (sister) Mau whose career has been centred on conservation.

14th January, 2011, somewhere where my family, friends and loved ones are getting on with their daily routines I was due to catch a ferry from Bluff ferry terminal to Stewart Island. In case you didn’t know where Bluff is, it is a town and seaport in the Southland region, on the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the southern-most town in New Zealand and, despite Slope Point being further to the south, is colloquially used to refer to the southern extremity of the country (particularly in such phrases as "from Cape Reinga to The Bluff"). According to the 2006 census, the usually resident population was 1,850, a decrease of 85 since 2001.
The Bluff area, while itself not settled by Māori, was one of the earliest areas of New Zealand where a European presence became established. The first ship known to have entered the harbour was the Perseverance in 1813, in search of flax trading possibilities, with the first European settlers arriving in 1823/1824. This is the foundation for the claim that this makes Bluff the oldest permanent European settlement in the country. However the missionary settlement at Kerikeri was both earlier and larger and the town is now larger than that of Bluff. The town was officially called Campbelltown in 1856, became a borough in 1878, and was renamed Bluff in 1917.

After traveling with 20 plus stray group travelers from all over the world for two days from Queenstown to Milford sound a number of us have decided to take the Stewart Island trip while the other group chose to chill out in Invercargill. Each of us had a motive to travel to Stewart island and if I had asked my co-travellers I would have listed all the reasons as to why they were choosing to travel to the island. For me it began 5 years ago that I thought when I do return to New Zealand Stewart Island would to be on my list of places to visit. With little did I know at that time my sense of adventure and curiosity has always driven me to travel here. The moment has finally arrived.
With just under 3 hours of pleasant ferry ride we arrive in Stewart Island. The weather as good as you can get on a summer day we sailed into the harbor where the little town of Oban is situated at Hoffman bay. Was I surprised? Not that I can say as I have preread on what to expect that is things such as how many banks, ATM/EFTOS services, bars , hotels, shops, number of permanent residents schools, and accommodation choices.
Arriving in a weather that was warm and welcoming you tactically have a choice of things to do; a swim out in the sea and a chill out on the beach, a bicycle ride to explore the town of Oban, hire a boat for a fishing trip, do recommended bush hikes up to 4 hours, or a taxi boat ride around the nearby bay to observe the nature etc…I finally settled for a bush hike and scenery walk.
Time was apparently racing especially when I had half a day and a night to spend on the Island so I wasted no time in checking in at the hostel to secure a bed and then the rest of the days plan was to fall in.
Enjoying the quietness of the unspoilt natural environment I walked for 3 hours, stopping to capture best views and respond with awe on how nature can truly amaze you when you take a moment acknowledge its existence.
After 3 hours of walking I needed a cold drink which I wasted no time in walking into the one and only shop on the island. I found a seat not far from the shop overlooking the harbor as I sculled my can of pineapple Fanta drink to calm my dry throat.

Though a short stay on the island I have enjoyed the natural scenery and tranquility of the island. I have also noticed how the department of conservation puts in a lot of funds in conserving its natural environment and I was personally impressed with the efforts which not only have I noticed in Stewart Island but all of New Zealand in my past weeks of touring New Zealand.

Some facts about Stewart Island
• Ecology
• 85 % of the island is a national reserve park
• the island is densely forested throughout
• Native plants include the world's southernmost dense forest of podocarps (southern conifers) and hardwoods such as rata and kamahi in the lowland areas with manuka shrubland at higher elevations.
• The trees are thought to have become established here since the last ice age from seeds brought across the strait by seabirds, which would explain why the beech trees that are so common in New Zealand but whose seeds are dispersed by the wind rather than birds are not found on Stewart Island.
• There are many species of birds on Stewart Island/Rakiura that have been able to thrive because of the absence of the cats, rats, stoats, ferrets, weasels and other predators that man has brought to the main islands
• The birds of Stewart Island include weka, kākā, albatross, the flightless Stewart Island kiwi, silvereyes, fantails, and kererū. The endangered Yellow-eyed penguin has a significant number of breeding sites here [6] while the large colonies of Sooty Shearwaters on the offshore Muttonbird Islands, are subject to muttonbirding, a sustainable harvesting program managed by Rakiura Māori
Geography
• Has an area of 1 746 km²
• The highest peak is Mount Anglem (979 metres (3,212 ft)), close to the northern coast it is one of a rim of ridges that surround Freshwater Valley.
• It lies 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of the South Island, across Foveaux Strait

Economy
• Fishing has been historically the main source of economy until recently tourism has also become increasing important for the locals
History
• The original Māori name, Te Punga o Te Waka a Maui, positions Stewart Island/Rakiura firmly at the heart of Māori mythology.
• Translated as The Anchor Stone of Maui’s Canoe, it refers to the part played by the island in the legend of Maui and his crew, who from their canoe, the South Island, caught and raised the great fish, the North Island.
• Captai The island received its European name in honour of William W. Stewart, who was first officer on the ship Pegasus, which visited from Port Jackson (Sydney), Australia, in 1809 on a sealing expeditionn Cook was the first European to sight the island in 1770

Some tips
• Ensure you have adequate cash in hand before traveling to the island as there are no banks/ATM/EFTOS machines.
• Book your transport in advance to secure your seats
• Depending on your interest it is best to spend 2 days or more
• If planning to tramp on some of the tramping treks on the island it is best recommended book in advance
• Report to the visitors center for local advise
• If you are afraid of boat rides you hve a choice of plane rides in under 40 minutes