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Tracks & walks

Southland

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Southland
- Stewart Island/ Rakiura

Stewart Island/Rakiura day walking tracks

Track category

Description

Observation Rock

Time: 30 min return

Although a steep walk, your efforts on reaching Observation Rock are rewarded with panoramic views over Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera and, on clear days, views of Mount Anglem/Hananui and Mount Rakeahua. Observation Rock is also a superb place to watch sunrises and sunsets.

Directions: From the RNPVC head towards the waterfront, turn right, walking along the waterfront until you reach Ayr Street, the next street on your right. Turn here and follow the road to the top of the hill, turning left at Leonard Street. At the end of Leonard Street, the road bends to the left to Excelsior Street. Look for the Department of Conservation signpost marking the short path to Observation Rock.

Fuchsia and Raroa walks

Time: 1 hr return

Just five minutes walk from the RNPVC lies an area of rich natural forest untouched by early milling operations. Two tracks run through this section of scenic reserve, which was gifted to the Government in the 1960s by Captain George Turner; he recognised the importance of protecting walks in the vicinity of Halfmoon Bay that had been undamaged by early milling or land clearance.

The track takes you past 500-year-old rimu, lush ferns, vibrant mosses and New Zealand tree-fuchsia. During summer months this area of forest is alive with the chorus of bellbird/korimako, tūī, wood pigeon/kererū and kākā.

Directions: Turn left outside the RNPVC and left again into Dundee Street. The Fuchsia Walk is signposted about 100 metres on your right, with the track climbing steadily up to Traill Park. From here, return to the township via the road or continue diagonally across the park and to the start of the Raroa Walk. This 15 minute track takes you to Watercress Bay and Thule Road.

Golden Bay - Deep Bay - Ringaringa - Wohlers Monument - Peterson Hill

Time: 1 hr 30 min - 2 hr return

This coastal-fringe track winds, climbs and falls to provide scenic views of Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera, Ulva Island and Halfmoon Bay from the top of Peterson Hill. During bad weather the forest may provide protection from rain and wind.

Directions: From the RNPVC, walk to the water-front, turn right and then right again into Ayr Street. Follow this street (which becomes Golden Bay Road) for about 10 minutes, passing Traill Park before heading down-hill. On your left, just before Golden Bay, you will see a sign marking the start of the Golden Bay Track. At the Deep Bay end of the track the beach may be explored. You may also continue straight ahead to the east, along the road to Ringaringa (five minutes). A monument to Reverend Wohlers, an early missionary, is situated just a short walk from the road end beyond Ringaringa Beach. From the end of the track you get good views out over Native Island and the inlet. To return to Halfmoon Bay, walk back along the road past Deep Bay for a short distance, until it meets the track through Deep Bay Reserve and over Peterson Hill.

Harrold Bay and Ackers Point Lighthouse

Time: 3 hr return

A scenic walk along the road, followed by five minutes along a track crossing private land, takes you to picturesque Harrold Bay, where one of the oldest buildings in New Zealand is located. Venture inside the house, built by Lewis Acker in 1835, and imagine life here with his nine children.

Continue along the main track through coastal forest until you reach the lighthouse at Ackers Point. Here you get great views out over the islands and Foveaux Strait. In mid-late summer tītī (sooty shearwaters/muttonbirds) can be seen returning to their burrows around this point at dusk and little blue penguins/kororā after dark.

An earlier lighthouse used to be situated across the inlet mouth at The Neck but was shifted to the present site in 1927. This was replaced by the current structure in 2006.

Directions: To get to Harrold Bay and Ackers Point, turn right at the Halfmoon Bay waterfront and follow the coast road, passing Lonnekers Bay and Leask Bay, until you reach the stile at the end of the road marking the start of the track. Please respect the privacy of the landowner while visiting Harrold Bay.

Evening Cove

Time: 1.5 hr return

At the Halfmoon Bay waterfront, turn right and follow the coast road until you arrive at Leask Bay. Here you will find relics of the whaling days. From the bay, turn right into Evening Cove Road and follow this road until the end where a five minute track leads down to a peaceful and secluded beach.

Lonnekers Beach - Ringaringa Beach

Time: 1.5 hr return

At the Halfmoon Bay waterfront, turn right and follow the coast road to Lonnekers Beach. A track begins on the opposite side of the road, approximately halfway along the beach. The walk goes to Ringaringa Beach and the northern edge of the golf course. From Ringaringa Beach you may return the same way or follow the old Ringaringa Road to Leask Bay.

Ryans Creek

Time: 3.5 - 4 hr return

Ryans Creek track is accessible from either Thule Road end or Kaipipi Road end, with the track winding, climbing and falling through coastal vegetation. As well as scenic views of Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera, walkers can also see wading birds feeding on mud-flats at low tide at Vaila Voe Bay, about 15 minutes from Thule Bay.

Bathing Beach

Time: 30 min return

Bathing Beach is a popular and sheltered swimming area with a white sand beach. The adjacent Mill Creek estuary is an interesting place to explore at low-tide, with remnants of timber from early milling days still visible along the creek edge. This track is maintained by the Southland District Council.

Directions: Continue uphill from the general store, turning right into Kamahi Road and following this around until reaching the Bathing Beach signpost.

Cemetery

Time: 45 min return

The Halfmoon Bay cemetery offers an insight into the lives of some of the early settlers on the island, while providing stunning views out over the Mill Creek estuary.

Directions: From the general store, continue left uphill on the Horseshoe Bay Road. Just after crossing Mill Creek bridge, turn left into Mapau Road, and follow this road until turning left at the cemetery signpost.

Moturau Moana

Time: 1 hr return

Moturau Moana translates as "islands of bush above the sea" and is an area of mostly native garden gifted to the people of New Zealand by the late Noeline Baker. Miss Baker collected the plants from Stewart Island/Rakiura and on field trips to the South Island. Today these gardens provide a peaceful setting with views over Halfmoon Bay.

Directions: At the waterfront, turn left into Horseshoe Bay Road and continue over Mill Creek and past Butterfield Beach until the Bragg Bay turnoff. The entrance to Moturau Moana is a few minutes along this road to the left.