Our last day on Stewart Island. It’s been a fun place to visit. A very small area of roads. Just branching out from the town. 90 % area is conservation land. A great place for really serious walkers. Like three day walks where they stay over in huts for two days along the way. Lots of walking tracks with plenty of choices on length of walks. The only roads are the ones branching a few kms out from the township of Oban. Very small proportion in area of the whole Island. We booked the mini bus tour thinking that would cover most roads but no there were a few more places to see so we hired a car today for about 4 hours to cover most roads in the area. And beaches and bays fishing inlets etc. The weather was going to be rain all day but the morning looked quite good so hopped into a rental and explored most of the area that has roads. By early afternoon the drizzle turned into continuous showers for the rest of the day and it’s now 7.00pm and still throwing it down. But mainly we have been lucky with the weather in this part of the country. Tomorrow we catch the 8.00am ferry back to Bluff. We will then catch a Uber up to Invercargill for one night before we fly home on Monday.
Before we hired the car we walked up the hill along from the hotel, the red roof building in the middle of the bay. It was very hot, sun was trying to stay out so by the time we came back from our walk we decided to get a car for four hours to see as much as we could around the coast and bays not too far from the township. That’s where the roads stop.
Half way up the hill was this cute little church perched up on the top of the hill.
We were walking along a high cliff walk above the harbour.
Little cottages spread along this walkway. It’s wide enough just to get a car up to this point.
View from the walkway.
This bay is called, Bathing Beach just out of town. This would be a popular swimming spot in the summer. Although after climbing up this hill today I could’ve been tempted as it was hot work.
Coming back along the cliff walk looking down on the boats in Halfmoon Bay.
Above and below Ringaringa Beach. Our first stop heading out east from town.
PT found a seat here above Ringaringa Beach and waited for me until I came back from my climb up to see more views.
Wohlers Monument was my first stop further up the hill.
Wohler was a missionary from Germany in 1844 who was very involved with the people.
Walking out further on the point looking over to Nature Island. Beautiful area.
Looking out the other way at Traills Bay.
Walking back down after the climb to Rev Wohlers Monument a view through the trees back towards Ringaringga Beach where PT was waiting for me.
Passing by Leask Bay. Boat in a very bad way. Left to rot.
Ackers Stone Cottage.
Inside
Walking to the end of the grass in front of the Stone Cottage looking down to the beach
A fishing community in Golden Bay
Looking down over the boat sheds in Golden Bay
Thule Bay. Next bay along from Golden Bay.
Driven around the eastern side of the Township now driving over to the western side. This is a long inlet where families love to bring their kids swimming, as the water never gets too deep when the tide comes in.
We have now arrived at Butterfield Bay very nice beach.
Bragg Bay is the inlet, around the first point, in the above picture. A calm shelter for the boats.
Looking both ways at Butterfield Bay
This is a terrible photo, now bucketing down with rain. I didn’t want to get out of the car so quickly put the window down and hoped for the best. This is Horseshoe Bay the biggest beach we saw. In the right weather it would be a beautiful beach but couldn’t show its size. Would have had to climb up high to get it all in the photo. If you can imagine this photo is only half the size of this huge sweeping bay the shape of a horseshoe .
Going into the Hotel Bar for a drink before Dinner. This is what the afternoon turned out to be and it’s still raining. But we have been so lucking over the whole holiday with great weather
My Dinner tonight half a fresh crayfish specially ordered in for me. Had to give the chef 24 hours notice to book this meal. Very yummy with a big salad bread and chips. I have eaten nearly half the crayfish before I thought of taking a photo.
🤳
PTs dinner beef cheeks pasta cheese etc etc 🤔
- Alarm is set for 6.00am tomorrow morning to catch the 8.00am ferry. Not going to be very pleasant if we have to walk the 300m from our Hotel to the Ferry in this rain with our luggage. It’s been great coming to Stewart Island we have really enjoyed the experience, something we have wanted to do for a long time. Now we can ✔️ that one off.
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