Rakiura National Park, Southland Region, New Zealand

Rakiura National Park is a nature reserve park located on Stewart Island / Rakiura, New Zealand. It is the newest national park of New Zealand and opened in 2002. The protected area covers about 85% of the island.

Rakiura National Park is the 14th of New Zealand’s national parks and was officially opened on 9 March 2002 by the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, the Minister of Conservation, Sandra Lee, and the mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary. It is New Zealand’s newest national park.

It covers 1,570 square kilometres (610 sq mi), which is about 85% of Stewart Island, New Zealand’s third-largest island. The park area excludes the township area around Halfmoon Bay (Oban) and some roads as well as private or Maori-owned land further inland. It is made up of a network of former nature reserves, scenic reserves, and State Forest areas.

A chain sculpture at the entrance to Rakiura National Park symbolizes the Maori view that Stewart Island is anchored to South Island; the sculpture was unveiled as part of the opening of the national park. In 2008, a similar sculpture was erected in Bluff, and it represents the other end of the chain.

User reviewed online profile of Rakiura National Park: Southland region, New Zealand. Plan your adventure holiday to Rakiura National Park armed with information and reviews provided by experts and by users. Find out about when to go, how to get there, what to do, best season to visit, its wildlife, habitat and much more…

What to do in Rakiura National Park:

Wild Life:  White-tailed Deer, Red Deer, Weka, Kaka, Albatross, Penguin, Tokoeka, Silvereye, Fantail, Kereru, Sooty Shearwater, Tui, Bellbird, Tomtit, Grey Warbler, Fernbird, Bottlenose Dolphin, Fur Seal, Sea Lion and Banded Rail
Adventure: Kiwi Spotting, Bird Watching, Boat Cruises, Kayaking – Fresh Water, Kayaking – Salt Water, Tramping, Walking

Where is Rakiura National Park:

Region: Located on New Zealand’s Stewart Island.
Location: Stewart Island/Rakiura, Southland district, Southland region, New Zealand

When & how to get to Rakiura National Park:

Best Time to Visit: to
Getting There: Transport to the island is either a 20-minute flight from Invercargill Airport or a one-hour trip on the ferry from Bluff.
Nearest Town: Bluff
Nearest Airport: Invercargill
Nearest Railway Station:

Where to stay (Lodges / Guest Houses / Camps / Resorts / Hotels):

Accommodation: From budget to luxury accommodation, the Stewart island offers a range of options to visitors – a country-style hotel with 9 studio units, a budget-priced complex, bed and breakfasts, self-catering houses, motel units, backpackers and camping ground. The Department of Conservation provides more than 25 hikers’ huts within the park, including a few ‘Great Walk’ huts that offer a higher-than-usual standard of accommodation. Rakiura National Park is a one-hour ferry ride away from the South Island town of Bluff, where a full range of accommodation can be found.

Add a hotel: If you know of a hotel, resort, guest house or camp please add it here. If you own or manage a hotel or resort you can add it to the database for ‘Free’.

Climate & Weather conditions in Rakiura National Park:

Temp: c to c
Rainfall: cm
Altitude: 450 m

Other details about Rakiura National Park:

Established: 2002
Area: 1,570 sq km
Language: English and Maori