Rakiura Track
Stewart Island
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Rakiura Track
Time: 3 days, 36km round trip
The Rakiura Track can be comfortably tramped in three days.
The circuit follows the open coast, climbs over a 300 metre high forested ridge, and traverses the sheltered shores of Paterson Inlet. It passes sites of historical interest and introduces many of the common sea and forest birds of the island. Parts of it cross Maori land and access is courtesy of the owners.
The track is suitable for walking in either direction.
Details
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Organisation |
DOC SouthlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Stewart Island ▷ Halfmoon Bay |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
Beautiful walk, secluded, full of wildlife, peaceful and beyond expectations.
Special thanks to the DOC ranger at Port William Campsite who was very helpful and friendly. The campsite itself was unique and charming. Only tip, maybe better indications from sites to the track.
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4.0/5
Great walk, only quite muddy due to a lot of rain before and during the second day.
more signs would be welcomed, otherwise nice rangers, beautiful huts and campground.
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4.5/5
We did the Rakiura Track in three days, stayed on the Northern Arm Campsite and in the Port Williams Hut.
The track was amazing. We enjoyed the primary forest the little rivers and the unique birdlife during the way. We even heard a Kiwi at night! Highly recommended, just a few more signs for the orientation would be good!
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4.0/5
Nice track but the first camping ground in the bush is not well equipped.
The cheapest Great Walk and a beautiful one.
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5.0/5
Three day hike, a look track.
First day to Maori Beach is beautiful, amazing forest, we stayed at North Arm Hut, third day we had a mixture of forest and scenery. Very impressed with the clean hut.
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5.0/5
A three day hike, book campsites or huts before you get your ferry across as they could be booked up already.
Well maintained track, some parts are muddy. Sandflies. Maori Beach is my favourite place. Beautiful.
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5.0/5
The tracks on this island are beautiful and easy to do.
You can have a beautiful view of the beach and small towns along the road.
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4.5/5
Very nice and quiet place.
We chose this track as our first three day track and it was a good choice. Not that hard, can listen to heaps of birds and spot a kiwi - we spotted two of them.
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3.5/5
Track leads mostly to forest.
We went for the shorter track which is best for beginners. Nice and lovely location where we saw a Kiwi!
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5.0/5
Beautiful walk, secluded, full of wildlife, peaceful and beyond expectations.
Special thanks to the DOC ranger at Port William Campsite who was very helpful and friendly. The campsite itself was unique and charming. Only tip, maybe better indications from sites to the track.
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4.0/5
Great walk, only quite muddy due to a lot of rain before and during the second day.
more signs would be welcomed, otherwise nice rangers, beautiful huts and campground.
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4.5/5
We did the Rakiura Track in three days, stayed on the Northern Arm Campsite and in the Port Williams Hut.
The track was amazing. We enjoyed the primary forest the little rivers and the unique birdlife during the way. We even heard a Kiwi at night! Highly recommended, just a few more signs for the orientation would be good!
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4.0/5
Nice track but the first camping ground in the bush is not well equipped.
The cheapest Great Walk and a beautiful one.
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5.0/5
Three day hike, a look track.
First day to Maori Beach is beautiful, amazing forest, we stayed at North Arm Hut, third day we had a mixture of forest and scenery. Very impressed with the clean hut.
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5.0/5
A three day hike, book campsites or huts before you get your ferry across as they could be booked up already.
Well maintained track, some parts are muddy. Sandflies. Maori Beach is my favourite place. Beautiful.
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5.0/5
The tracks on this island are beautiful and easy to do.
You can have a beautiful view of the beach and small towns along the road.
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4.5/5
Very nice and quiet place.
We chose this track as our first three day track and it was a good choice. Not that hard, can listen to heaps of birds and spot a kiwi - we spotted two of them.
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3.5/5
Track leads mostly to forest.
We went for the shorter track which is best for beginners. Nice and lovely location where we saw a Kiwi!
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5.0/5
Easy three day track, beaches (freezing!), bush, lots of very funny bird song, muddy in some places, but not an issue if only three days on the track.
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4.5/5
Nice relaxing track.
We did it in 3 days, if you are fit, you can do it in 2 too.
If you camp, you can stay at the first campsite (Maori Beach, a beautiful loooong beach), but it's such a short first day (3h or so), so we decided to stay at the next one next to the first hut, and we were happy we did, because it was even nicer :)
First day coastal track, from second day on more inland, through nice bush.
Apparently theeee chance to see kiwi in the wild. Haven't seen one there unfortunately (but did on the halfmoon bay track on Stewart Island). Good luck!
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3.5/5
3-day walk, 37km.
The middle day is only in the bush and not as interesting as the 1st and 3rd day. Nice camping grounds. Good chance to spot a kiwi bird.
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4.0/5
Muddy in places (under repair).
Beautiful rainforest. North Arm Hut very basic (toilets unpleasant) but Port William Hut good.
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5.0/5
Especially the first day is great, beautiful beaches, great nature, good facilities at huts, best place of huts at Port Willis hut.
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4.0/5
Thought we'd water taxi to Mason Bay but tides were all wrong - couldn't check in advance.
Tramped to Port William hut instead & spent night listening to snorers & talkers.
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4.0/5
3 day track.
Huts are fine. Scenery is very beautiful. Track is a bit muddy, especially the second half needs a few more boardwalks. We think it is worth the effort to go there.
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3.5/5
The walk is less scenic than I expected, but still I love Stewart Island but might do something else.
NOTE: that ferry to Stewart Island is deadly!! So rough (25ft waves)!
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