The Star: December 20, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday December 20 2018 29
Your
Summer Holiday Attraction
guide
Tick Stewart Island off your bucket list
It’s a remarkable hideaway that embraces
the serenity of nature, spiced with the
promise of adventure. However many
New Zealanders have never set foot on
the natural treasure that is Stewart Island/
Rakiura, it often remains on their ‘to do’ list.
It’s time to tick Stewart Island off the
bucket list and book an escape to this
ecological wonderland, where the worries
of everyday life just gently melt away.
Book a flight into Invercargill and take
some time to explore the city’s grand
architecture and gardens. There’s no
shortage of activities to do in Invercargill
discover the vintage truck collection at Bill
Richardson Transport World, check out the
amazing collection of vintage motorbikes
at Classic Motorcycle Mecca and of course
learn about Invercargill’s legend of speed,
Burt Munro at E Hayes Motorworks. Have
a go at Dig This Invercargill New Zealand's
first heavy equipment playground.
Once you’ve explored New Zealand’s
garage head over to Stewart Island. It's just a
short flight or ferry trip from the mainland,
but a world away from fast-paced city life.
There is plenty of time to embrace adventure,
nature and the island’s fascinating history.
Stewart Island is home to the largest
and most diverse bird population in New
Zealand, visitors have the chance to get up
close and personal with kaka, albatross,
penguins, weka and even wild kiwi. There
are over 20,000 Southern Brown Kiwi
on the island. Join a guided walk on Ulva
Island or book a tour and try to spot kiwi in
their natural habitat.
This island is a hikers’ paradise, it has just
28km of road, but over 280km of walking
tracks; ranging from 30 minute beach
walks to 12-day-long adventures, including
the Rakiura Track, one of New Zealand’s
Great Walks. The walking tracks on Stewart
Island provide plenty of different ways to
experience the island’s wild beauty, with a
track for every ability and time frame.
Surrounded by water the island offers
ocean adventures galore. Clear waters
showcase unique marine life, boat charters
offer sightseeing and deep-sea fishing tours,
and sea kayaks are available for hire. Catch
your own delicious Stewart Island Blue Cod
or dive for crayfish. For the more sedate,
visit the local food vendors for unmatched
seafood platters.
Experience this unspoilt island
environment which basks in glorious
sunsets over fresh, clean water and golden
sand beaches next to lush native wilderness.
Escape to Stewart Island, the New Zealand
we all dream of.
Surrounded by water the island offers
ocean adventures galore. Clear waters
showcase unique marine life, boat charters
offer sightseeing and deep-sea fishing
tours, and sea kayaks are available for hire.
1128 Woodstock-Rimu Road, Ruatapu, Hokitika
freephone: 0508 8733 8677 phone: 03 755 5052
email: bookings@treetopsnz.com
The Big Show of 2019
Tickets on sale now at the woodford glen Shop
129 North Avon Road, Richmond
Phone 03 385 1515 or buy online now at
www.woodfordglen.co.nz or www.iticket.co.nz