A 10-minute water taxi lands you in the closest thing NZ has to pre-human silence: kiwi, saddlebacks, and kaka calling in ancient rainforest with no traps, no pests, no crowds.
What to expect
You'll walk quiet forest tracks as your guide reads birdsong and points out species most visitors never see, from saddlebacks to South Island robins. The pace is unhurried, built around long pauses at feeding trees and beaches. Expect intimate, expert-led interpretation of an ecosystem restored to its pre-human state. Bring a camera with a long lens if you have one.
Good to know
Water taxi departs from Golden Bay wharf near Oban; book the earliest crossing to beat other visitors and align with all-aboard by mid-afternoon.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Stewart Island — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.