Ulva Island (Te Wharawhara)

The majority of Ulva Island is part of the Rakiura National Park, which covers 85% of Stewart Island. You can visit for a casual hike or picnic. The island has never been milled for timber and it’s been pest-free since 1997, so you can experience what much more of New Zealand would have been like before colonization, industrialization, and mass agriculture. Travelers typically visit on a nature-focused tour while staying on Stewart Island.

• There are no trash cans on the island and everything you bring in with you, you must also take out.

• There are no shops on the island. Make sure to stock up on snacks and drinks before leaving Stewart Island.

• Don’t feed the birds, and if you see fur seals, sea lions, leopard seals, or elephant seals on the beaches or in the water, keep a safe distance of at least 65 feet (20 meters).

Whether you’re visiting Ulva Island independently or on a tour, you’ll need to get a boat there first. Ferries, water taxis, and charter boats depart from Halfmoon Bay and Golden Bay on mainland Stewart Island. They drop passengers off at Post Office Bay, on the north side of Ulva Island and where many of its walking tracks start from.

You can only visit Ulva Island by day, as night visits are not allowed—there’s no accommodation on the island and camping is prohibited. Because of its southern latitude, Stewart Island and Ulva Island experience cool summers and cold winters, and rain can be expected year-round. Summer is the best time to enjoy the outdoors, but if you do visit in winter, there’s a chance of seeing the Aurora Australis.

Many travelers come to Stewart Island to hike the 3-day Rakiura Track, one of the New Zealand Department of Conservation’s Great Walks. The 20-mile (32-kilometer) loop track is categorized as intermediate level, and includes coastal and inland sections, which give you a good overview of the island’s flora, fauna, and geology.