Is there snow on Stewart Island in New Zealand?

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Volcanic island in southern New Zealand. Located in the South Pacific Ocean, 32km south of South Island, facing South Island across the Fovo Strait. Before the British occupation in 1864, Maori people called it "Rakiyura". Volcanic island. Covering an area of 1,375 square kilometers, it is mainly mountainous and densely forested, and is a national scenic protection area. It is a tourist attraction in summer, with developed fisheries, especially oysters. Residents are scarce (only 542 in 1986), and most of them are engaged in fishing. The main town is Aoban, on the northeast coast; Port Pegasus, in the southwest corner.

Stewart Island is famous for its wine production. In Maori language, the island is translated as a vibrant sky. Its name may come from the laser at dawn, a natural phenomenon that can often be seen in the southern sky. 85% of the island is a national park, and there is only one residential area in Half Moon Port (sometimes called Aoban), where all kinds of accommodation are provided. Most visitors come to climb mountains on foot. Traditional and ancient huts provide accommodation for night hikers. Far from the coast is Urva Island, which is a refuge for non-carnivorous birds. It is also easy to reach by water transportation.

Origin of the name

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Captain Cook was the first European explorer to discover this island, but he connected it with the South Island, so he named it "South Cape" in 177. The present name of Stewart Island is in memory of Captain William Stewart, a whaling and seal hunter, who was the first to draw a correct chart of this island in 189.

The original Maori name Te Punga o Te Waka a Maui shows that this island plays an important role in Maori mythology, which means "the anchor stone of Maui's canoe". In the myth, Maui and his crew grabbed the big fish, North Island, from their canoe, South Island.

Rakiura is a commonly used Maori name, which is usually translated as "shining sky", which may refer to the famous sunset scene or Antarctic light on Stewart Island, which is the wonder of southern latitude.

for some people, Rakiura is a change from Te Rakiura a Te Rakitamau, which means Rakitamau's big red face, which means Rakitamau was very ashamed because he refused the marriage proposal of two daughters of a certain chief in succession. According to Maori legend, after the chief of an island called Te Rakitamau married a young woman, the woman became ill. On his deathbed, he begged him to marry her cousin/sister after her death. Te Rakitamau rowed across Te Moana Tapokopoko a Tawhiki (Fuwo Strait) to the south island where the cousin/sister lived, only to find that she had just married, and he blushed with shame, so the island was called Te Ura o Te Rakitamau at that time.

Geographical overview

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Satellite aerial photo of Stewart Island, which covers an area of 1,746km? The northern part of the island is mainly occupied by marsh valleys formed by the Freshwater River, which originates in the northwest of the island near the coast and flows southeast through the island into Paterson Inlet. Mt Anglem, near the north coast, is the highest mountain on the island, with a height of 979 meters. This mountain is one of the peaks around Danshui Valley Mountains.

the ups and downs in the south of Stewart Island are relatively consistent. A mountain range extends from the south of the Rakeahua River valley, which also flows into Paterson Bay. The highest point is Mt. Allen, which is 75 meters high, and the southernmost point of the island is the South West Cape.

Mason Bay on the west side of Stewart Island is worth noting, because the island's Changsha Beach is usually rugged. One saying is that it was hit by a meteor.

human geography

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settlement: Oban is the only town on the island, located in Half Moon Bay, near the north of the estuary of Paterson Bay.

In the past, the settlement was Point Pegasus, where some shops and a post office developed, but now it is uninhabited. Now, if you want to go here, you can only cross the steep mountain road by boat or on foot.

transportation and economy: there are regular ferries between Bluff and Auburn, and there are also air routes with Invercagel airport, and planes can land on various beaches on the island.

Although there are some tourism, forestry and agriculture in Stewart Island, the main industry here is fishing. More than 8% of the island is included in Rakiura National Park, which is the latest national park in New Zealand.

Ecological environment

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Stewart Island is located about 3 kilometers south of the South Island, separated from the South Island by the Fovo Strait, overlooking Bluff, Invercagel. This island, which is about 4 kilometers wide and has a population of less than 5 people, is attractive because of its natural and rugged natural environment-because it is remote and separated by straits, although there is no magnificent natural wonder, for those who like tranquility and love the wilderness, the virgin forest and unspoiled coastline on Stewart Island can make people feel lonely and independent.

Stewart Island was once famous as a whaling base, but now it is proud of its conservation work. In the past, like other places in New Zealand, the introduction of exotic mammals led to the extinction of native birds, but when people realized the value of natural ecology, they began to make up for the mistakes of unrestrained plundering of resources in the past. At present, there are not only many seabirds living on the island, but also yellow-eyed penguins and little blue penguins, and a wide variety of birds on land make Stewart Island a reward.

Because it is isolated from natural enemies, Stewart Island is rich in bird ecology, including kakapos, Wicca crake, albatrosses, penguins, exotic birds, embroidered birds, wrens, migratory birds and rare yellow-headed birds. There are many white-tailed deer hunting in the coastal areas of Stewart Island, and there are also a few red deer in the inland areas.

National Park

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There are three main islands in New Zealand. Stewart Island is located at the southernmost tip and is the smallest one (about 75 kilometers long and 45 kilometers wide). Stewart Island was recently approved as the youngest national park in New Zealand ―― it will be officially named Rakiura National Park.

Among the three main islands in New Zealand, Stewart Island is the most natural ―― the least farmland, the least deforestation, the least forest burning and the least buildings. Relatively speaking, several forests here still maintain the most primitive features. The main reason for protecting these places (especially the marine islands free of harmful organisms) is that kiwi birds, yellow-eyed penguins, kakapo parrots, New Zealand dotterel, bats, Wicca crake, South Island Black-backed Europe and Weita (wingless insects like crickets) can have a permanent habitat.

If you want to find a peaceful and quiet place, Stewart Island is undoubtedly the best choice. There are excellent jungle walkways and sightseeing ferries around the most scenic coast of New Zealand. The water here is clear and clean, which is an ideal place for snorkeling and diving.

Related information

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Practical information: The population is about 42, and there is a tourist center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with ferry service from Bluff.

Other towns near Stewart Island that can be reached by water and land:

Bluff) (6 minutes)

Invercargill) (85 minutes)

Winton) (112 minutes)

Leave Stewart Island by plane (?

The nearest airport is in Invercargill) (85 minutes)

Stewart Island I-Site Visitor Centre:

The Stewart Island Visitor Centre has an explanatory display, which introduces the island's biodiversity, cultural history and recreation. Visitors can take a walk in Lakiola, Northwest Ring Pedestrian Trail and South Ring Pedestrian Trail, get information about weather and pedestrian trails, and buy cabin reservation tickets at the tourist information center. The staff of the tourist information center can provide you with traffic information and guide tourists to travel to Shiva Island or live in other walking or hunting scenic spots. You can fly to some parts of the island and learn more about hunting, marine life or marine regulations. /map-8255.html.