Stewart Island.

A little over 45 years ago I found out that New Zeland's third island was called Stewart Island.  It seemed a good name to me, and much better than the geographically accurate, but rather prosaic, North and South Island that named the other major islands. 

Well, after 45 years I visited it.

And what a great place it is.  Stewart Islands sits about 35 km offshore from the southern tip of South Island.  It can be reached by air and sea, and I took the hours long ferry journey from Bluff.  Arriving in near darkness I was soon settled into my small room at the South Sea Hotel, Oban and not much later I had found the bar, bought a remarkably good roast dinner, a beer, and had joined a Pub Quiz team. It turned into a rather splendid, if unexpected, Sunday evening. 

Stewart Island - or Rakiura to give it its Māori name - is a roughly triangular island with a total land area of 1,746 km2, 80% of which is National Park owned by the government.  Oban is the only real centre of population on the island, and just over 400 people call it home.

As to be expected, I spend a few days exploring - although I never got very far from Oban.  Maybe next time.

Ferry Terminal and Oban CBD

Dogs in the back of a Ute.

Bullers Albatross from the shore

Fishing Boat and Companion

Ulva Island

Community Congratulations outside the supermarket - it was updated daily 

Little / Blue Penguin Tracks, Ulva Island

I can highly recommend a visit.

SM