Located in Rakiura National Park and Stewart Island/Rakiura in the Southland region
Campsites: Good availability | Huts: Limited availability from April
Bookings are planned to open in mid-June 2021, for trips that require bookings from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. The specific date that bookings will open will be added to this page, at least two weeks prior to the date.
32 km loop
Trampers on the Rakiura Track Image: 90 Seconds ©
Trampers on Magnetic Beach Image: | DOC
Enjoy views of the clear clean sea Image: Baptiste Maryns ©
You'll find historic relics dispersed along the track Image: Jeremy Pearce ©
Swing bridge on Maori Beach, Rakiura Track Image: 90 Seconds ©
Port William, Rakiura Track Image: 90 Seconds ©
Trampers on Maori Beach Image: 90 Seconds ©
Chain link sculpture at entrance to the national park Image: | DOC
Log hauler—a remnant of milling activity Image: | DOC
The circuit follows open coastline, crosses forested interior and meanders along 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 Māori land and access is courtesy of the owners.
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There are two huts (Port Willam and North Arm) and three campsites (Maori Beach, Port William and North Arm) on the Rakiura Track. Note, campsites are not adjacent to the huts. Camping is only permitted at the designated campsites. When camping, you may not use hut facilities, but a cooking shelter, water supply and toilet are provided at each site.
It is another 5 km along the road from Oban township to get to Lee Bay. This walk takes approximately 1.5 hours.
Time: 3 - 4 hr
Distance: 8 km
Passing through the chain link sculpture at Lee Bay, the track follows the coast to Little River, which is crossed by a bridge. At low tide it is possible to walk around the beach and pick up the track at the point.
From there the track heads around Peter’s Point and on to Maori Beach. The creek at the southern end of Maori Beach can easily be waded at low tide, however at high tide, continue along the track until you come to a small foot bridge. A track leading to a rusting steam boiler, a relic from the sawmilling days, can be found just few minutes on from the turn-off to this bridge. Maori Beach campsite is situated in a grassy clearing close to the beach.
A larger bridge spans the tidal stream at the northern end of the beach and from here the track climbs a small hill and continues on to the intersection with the track to North Arm. Turn right and you will gradually drop down to the campsite above Magnetic Beach in Port William/Potirepo. Port William Hut is just a few minutes beyond the campsite.
Time: 6 hr
Distance: 13 km
This section of track starts on the hill between Maori Beach and Port William. Trampers usually stay the night at Port William Hut and then backtrack the 40 minutes to the turn-off.
The track passes through a variety of vegetation including previously milled and virgin podocarp forest. Remnants of milling activity are seen along the track as it follows old tramlines for the logs being directed to their various destinations.
A campsite, with shelter and toilet, is sited above North Arm Hut.
Time: 4 - 4 hr 30 min
Distance: 11 km
This section of track provides trampers access to the shores of Paterson Inlet.
The track sidles around the headland from North Arm to Sawdust Bay.It passes a sawmill site which was operated between 1914 and 1918. The track continues through rimu and kamahi dominated forest emerging at the sheltered bays of Kidney Fern Arm and Kaipipi Bay. At Kaipipi Bay two sawmills employed more than 100 people in the 1860s.
The track between Kaipipi and Halfmoon Bays follows the former Kaipipi Road, in its heyday the most used and best maintained on the island.
From Fern Gully carpark it is another 2 km along the road (turn left into Main Rd) to get back to Oban township.
Fees are charged per person, per night to stay in huts and campsites on the Rakiura Track. There are no fees to complete a day walk on the track or for entry into the Rakiura National Park.
1 October - 30 April:
New Zealand citizens, those ordinarily resident in New Zealand*:
International visitors:
1 May - 30 September:
"Ordinarily resident in New Zealand" means those:
Proof of eligibility will be required for the New Zealand rate. Acceptable eligibility proof.
New Zealand citizens, those ordinarily resident in New Zealand*:
International visitors:
"Ordinarily resident in New Zealand" means those:
Proof of eligibility will be required for the New Zealand rate. Acceptable eligibility proof.
A 10% discount is available to members, staff and instructors of the following organisations, who also hold a valid 12 month Backcountry Hut Pass:
Discounts are not available online. To receive the discount we need to sight your membership card and Backcountry Hut Pass, so visit a DOC visitor centre in person. If you get a discount you won't be charged a booking fee.
Before you start walking the Rakiura Track:
Campsites: Good availability | Huts: Limited availability from April
Bookings are planned to open in mid-June 2021, for trips that require bookings from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. The specific date that bookings will open will be added to this page, at least two weeks prior to the date.
Read the booking terms and conditions (scroll to the bottom to find the Terms and Conditions link) for general information, age ranges, prices, discounts, penalty rates and the alterations and cancellations policy. Bookings not meeting the terms and conditions will be treated as invalid and cancelled.
Guided groups: To operate a commercial activity in an area managed by DOC, you need to apply for a concession (an official permit), in addition to any bookings you would need to make. Read more about concessions
To make multiple bookings for facilities/services on behalf of customers, you must obtain permission or an agent agreement from DOC. To do this, email: agents@doc.govt.nz
The Rakiura Track can be walked in either direction, starting from two locations:
If you prefer not to walk from Oban, shuttles can be used for drop-offs at Lee Bay or water taxis can be used for access to Rakiura Track huts.
Access to North Arm hut by boat is dependent on tides.
To get to Oban, the only township on Stewart Island/Rakiura, you can take a 20-minute flight from Invercargill or a 1-hour ferry trip across Foveaux Strait from the southern port of Bluff. In Oban you’ll find accommodation, supplies, equipment hire and transport to and from the start of the track.
Stewart Island’s weather is very changeable and difficult to predict. Strong winds, hail and heavy rain can occur at any time of the year. Check the Rakiura National Park weather forecast – NIWA website. You should come equipped for the very worst weather conditions. Remember, exposure and hypothermia can affect anyone and can kill.
The following gear is essential, no matter how warm it is on the day of departure. Remember to pack everything in your pack inside a plastic pack liner, especially your sleeping bag and clothes.
Plan properly for your trip and ensure your party has a capable, experienced leader.
Mobile coverage is restricted to the immediate township area, so you may wish to consider carrying a Personal Locator Beacon or Mountain Radio.
Before you go into the outdoors, tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm if you haven't returned. To do this, use the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website. It is endorsed by New Zealand's search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone you trust the details about your trip.
Fill in the hut books and include any change of plans.
Keep to the tracks. Off the tracks the valleys are steep-sided and densely bush-clad.
If you become lost find shelter, stay calm and wait for searchers to arrive.
Be careful where netting is exposed and on wooden steps, these sections maybe slippery.
Bring a copy of the DOC confirmation letter with you, or stop by the Rakiura National Park Visior Centre at Oban before you start walking on the track.
Huts on the Rakiura Track don't have gas cooking facilities, lighting or toilet paper. Remember to take a portable stove and fuel, candles and toilet paper with you.
You can't buy food on the track.
Bring food that is lightweight, fast cooking and high in energy value. For example:
You'll also need water, snacks, biscuits, muesli bars, tea or coffee, powdered fruit drinks and emergency food in case of any delays on the track.
Diverse native birdsong, lush forest, relics of bygone days, beaches and rugged coastlines are all features of this year-round Great Walk.
Maori established hunting camps or kaika at many coastal sites, including Port William/Potirepo, reached by outrigger canoe. Port William/Potirepo was the site of the early Maori settlement of Pa Whakataka.
During the 1800s its sheltered harbour was used by sealers and later as a whaling base. Gold prospecting was unsuccessful but the discovery of an oyster bed proved more lucrative. A government subsidised settlement by Shetland Islanders lasted only a short time, the bay’s gum trees the only remains of their presence.
In the early 1900s, timber milling developed at Maori Beach which, by 1920, had two sawmills and a school. From the track, you’ll be able to see remains of the sawmilling enterprise which lasted here until 1931.
The sheltered waters of Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera were used early in the 19th century by whaling boats. However, the first large scale industry here was in timber, beginning in 1861 with the opening of sawmills at Kaipipi.
In the 1920s and 1930s the Norwegian Whaling Company ran a repair base in Prices Inlet where chaser boats were serviced in preparation for the Antarctic summer.
First established in the 1980s, the walking track linking Port William with Paterson Inlet has been improved and upgraded to take walkers past relics of the timber milling days.
The Rakiura Track takes walkers through mainly rimu and kamahi forest with a rich diversity of tree ferns, ground ferns and perching orchids. Rata is more common at higher altitudes.
Along the coast, keen bird watchers should look out for mutton birds/tïtï (sooty shearwaters), shags/kawau, Buller’s mollymawks/toroa, cape pigeons/titore and little blue penguins/korora.
In the forest, walkers may see and hear bellbirds/korimako, tui, fantails/pïwakawaka, parakeets/kakariki, shining cuckoos/pipiwharauroa and wood pigeons/keruru, grey warblers/riroriro, kaka and tomtits/miromiro.
The tidal flats of Paterson Inlet host a variety of wading birds including the New Zealand dotterel/tūturiwhatu, oyster catchers/torea, herons/matuku moana and godwits/kuaka.
There are many kiwi on Stewart Island. Kiwi are nocturnal, and most are active during the night. Use a red light or red filter to cover your torch to minimise disturbance when looking for kiwi. Do not use flash photography or bright lights.
Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre | |
Phone: | +64 3 219 0009 |
Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
Email: | stewartisland@doc.govt.nz |
Address: |
15 Main Road Oban |
Postal Address: |
PO Box 3 Rakiura/Stewart Island 9846 |
Full office details |