Stewart Island

7-11.02

Going to Steward Island :)

It’s the 3rd most important Island of New Zealand.

I took the bus to Bluff and them, jumped on the ferry. It’s only an hour on the boat, but it was a nightmare. It was windy and the sea was quite agitated. I’ve never been so happy to get off a boat. Wasn’t feeling to good, and having people filing up paper bag all around is not fun…

Hoping the ride back is going to be less like a roller coaster ride.

And it’s where I was working on my blog once home and messed up this post. I’ll redo it the best I can remember and try not to messed up any other post :(

So, once I arrived on steward Island, not feeling to good, I went to my hostel and lay down for a while. 

Once I started to feel better, I went for a walk, getting some fresh air and stopped by the information office to ask about the different trail on the Island.

The main town (and only one) on the Island is Oban, population around 400 people. Which make it one of those place where everybody knows everybody, remind me of where I grew up!!! If you want to fit in here, you'll have to adopt their fashion: rubber boots!! everybody wear them and the place is kind of known for it ;)

That day they had a Strong Man competition going on. It was fun to watch for a bit but it's one of those thing that is better when you know the people that compete and/or some people around to hang out...

Welcome to Oban situated in Half Moon Bay, Steward Island

My friend the ferry :(

Golden Bay

Nicest police station I've ever seen :)

The next day I went for a walk to Maori Beach. They used to do a lot of timber on the island and there is an old sawmill (not much left of it) on that beach.
Made a small detour by Garden Mout summit on my way back and a few other places, which made me walk for something like 7hours!! It was nice but I was happy to get back to my hostel :)

I came across two Kaka parrot, flying strait at me on one of the trail. They scared me big time, being a little lost in my though…

Lookout for the kiwis!!

My friend Kaka parrot

old sawmill

View from Garden Mount

Horse Shoe Bay

New Zealand pigeon

For my third day on the Island, I took the little ferry to Ulva Island. 

It’s a small island, predator free, a bird sanctuary :)

I spend the day walking around bird watching, and even though I’m not too good at that, I’ve been lucky to spot quite a few of them.

Ferry ticket 

New Zealand Pigeon

Weka

Tomtit

They are really cut until...

They do that, a little too close for me...

Oystercatcher

Yellowhead

New Zealand Parakeet

Next day, I went walking on divers trails. I don't know if it was because of the weather being not so great or the fact that I've done a lot of walking those last few days, but I didn't felt really excited by anything I saw.

The only place I liked was Fern Gully, where the local where planning to hide their children in case of an invasion during WWII.

It was a little muddy at some spots

Want some mussels for diner??

Fern Gully

And it's my last day on the Island :(

The one thing I haven't said about the island is that the weather keep changing, you can have the four seasons in one day and I definitely experienced it. I had some sun but some rain and cold too.

My ferry wasn't before late afternoon so it gives me some time to enjoy the island for a little longer.

So since it was nice and sunny and I went for the last short walk I wanted to do on the island. It goes by Lewis Acker's stone house, which is the oldest european building on the island.

After that, still having some time before my ferry, I sat down and relaxed at the beach in Oban.

My ferry ride back to the south Island was much smoother than the one to get here, even been able to enjoy the outside deck of the boat :).

After a short bus ride I'm back in Invercargill, leaving tomorrow for Te Anau.

Tui

Lewis Acker's houss

Not a bad view

Acker Point

Who want a free boat??

And since some of you keep asking about food, here is what I've been eating here ;)

Bloody Mary oyster shot

Best fish and chip I had so fare

And I think I've done pretty good remembering my time on Steward Island. My habit of taking pictures of the signs of where I'm at has been useful for once ;)