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Page updated: September 2009 Contact Us: mail@ruggedyrange.com Back to Walks & Hikes Options |
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"A
gorgeous day, a beautiful island, a magnificent guide, a trip never
to forget." |
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Ulva Island is situated within Paterson Inlet, an easy 8 minutes water taxi ride from Golden Bay, Stewart Island. It has an area of approximately 269 ha, 3.5 km long and 1.5 km wide. Once the site of Stewart Island's first Post Office established in 1872, it is now managed by the Department of Conservation as part of Rakiura National Park. A picturesque, forested island with easy walks, beautiful beaches and interesting coves. During the 1990's, rats were removed from the Island to create a safe haven for native birds and plants, and now the Island's ecology is thriving. A real nature sanctuary - a visit to Ulva Island is a must for anyone interested in New Zealand birds and flora. Flora Ulva Island is one of the few places in New Zealand where you can view near-pristine native podocarp forest including the majestic rimu, miro and totara. There are also flowering southern rata and kamahi, tree ferns, delicate ground ferns and mosses. A number of orchid species are a delight to see, especially during the summer months. Fauna Since the eradication of rats, five bird species have been released on Ulva Island, the rare South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus curunculatus), the threatened Stewart Island robin (Petroica australis rakiura), the rare yellowhead (Mohoua ochrocephala) and the rifleman (Acanthisitta chloris chloris). The Stewart Island fernbird (Bowdleria punctata stewartiana) was also released, but is thought not to have survived on Ulva Island. There are few places in New Zealand like Ulva Island where a variety of native birds can be viewed at such close range. We often hear kaka, our native parrot calling their liquid honey notes, interspersed with the bellbird's exquisite notes and the wonderfully varied calls of the tui, with lime green parakeets flying amongst the tree tops. South Island saddleback, yellowhead, robin, rifleman, red and yellow-crowned parakeets, wood pigeon and weka (wood hen), tui, fantail, tomtit, brown creeper and New Zealand wood pigeon, are amongst several varieties of birds that are often sighted. Please help to keep Ulva Island rat free by checking you packs before you leave for the Island! Maori Beach is reached via Lee Bay, the official entranceway to Rakiura National Park. Maori Beach, once the site of a Maori village and European sawmill site, has reverted to wilderness and has a lovely stretch of golden sandy beach with two creeks running at either end. It is accessed via the coastal track from Lee Bay and makes a pleasant introduction to what Stewart Island has to offer. |
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| TRIP DETAILS: Ulva Island & Maori Beach | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Ulva Island experience, ancient, relatively unmodified, native New Zealand forest and rare/threatened birds and plants, followed by a beautiful coastal walk on Stewart Island… Book Now (click here to make a booking) What we do - See also main Map. Meet with your guide from Ruggedy Range™ Wilderness Experience at Golden Bay Wharf to enjoy a short water taxi ride across Paterson Inlet to Ulva Island. We walk through Ulva Island's near pristine forest, listening to birdsong and stopping often to view endemic/native bird species and plants, providing quality interpretation on our natural history, conservation, Maori & European history. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Sydney Cove, Ulva Island before departing by water taxi to Golden Bay Wharf for our shuttle transfer to Lee Bay, approximately 5 minutes. At Lee Bay, take in coastal views over to Port William and across Foveaux Strait. After lunch we walk the coastal track, via picturesque Little River to Maori Beach, enjoying the beautiful seascape, birds and plant life. Maori
Beach, once the site of a Maori village and sawmill site has reverted
to wilderness and has a lovely stretch of golden sandy beach with
two creeks running at either end. We enjoy a stroll on the beach,
checking out the swing bring and river before returning to Lee Bay
for our shuttle transfer back to Halfmoon Bay. Trip Times During Autumn and Winter this trip may run at slightly different times due to New Zealand daylight saving. We will notify you of variations to normal times when you make your booking, including modifying the itinerary if you are leaving Stewart Island on the last flight. "Great
day - liked seeing Ulva & Maori Beach & learning more about
Stewart Island." |
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"Birds & Forest Booking Office"
Stewart Island - Travel & Activities
Cnr Main Rd & Dundee St,
P O Box 188, Stewart Island, NZ
Ph: 64 3 219 1066
Fax: 64 3 219 1078
Mob: 64 274 784 433
www.ruggedyrange.com
Office now centrally located 1/2 minute walk from DOC office and 3 1/2 minutes walk from flight/ferry See Map.
Guided Walks & Treks - Natural History Tours - Kiwi Spotting - Bird Watching - Botany - Sea Kayaking
Boat Cruises & Charters - Water Taxi (operating Aihe Eco Charters & Water Taxi)
Fully Licensed Shuttle & Shuttle Tours
Outdoor Clothing & Equipment
Travel Agency - Accommodation, Travel & Activity Bookings
STEWART ISLAND - ULVA ISLAND NATURE SANCTUARY - RAKIURA NATIONAL PARK, NZ
Copyright 2002 - 2009, Ruggedy Range (Tm) - All rights reserved.