Ferry and Bus Services From Stewart Island

Explore New Zealand's South and Stewart Islands with its their 9 unique geographical regions and diverse natural beauty, from soaring mountain peaks of the Southern Alps, fiords, glaciers, lakes, rivers, native alpine bush and the southern skifields by bus, coach and ferry from Oban in Stewart Island.

Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third-largest island of New Zealand. It lies 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of the South Island, across Foveaux Strait. Its permanent population is slightly over 400 people, most of whom live in the settlement of Oban.

Stewart Island/Rakiura is the southernmost and smallest (about 75km long and up to 45km wide).  It is also the least modified - the least logged, least farmed, least burnt, and least built upon. 

Together with its 170 satellite islands and inlets, it retains a largely intact set of natural habitats ranging from dense coastal rainforest to tundra-like alpine vegetation.

Rakiura is the more commonly known and used Māori name. It is usually translated as Glowing Skies, possibly a reference to the sunsets for which it is famous or for the Aurora Australis, the southern lights that are a phenomenon of southern latitudes.

Over 80 per cent of the island is set aside as the Rakiura National Park, New Zealand's newest national park.

Other landscape features include the unique southern granite domes, Mason Bay's extensive dune lands, the expansive Freshwater wetlands, Mt Anglem's twin lakes, and numerous small forest-lined rivers stained brown by tannin.

Human settlement is confined to a small area on the northeast coast centred on Halfmoon Bay and the township of Oban with a population of 320 people. Native forest embraces the settlement and its 24km or roads, creating an attractive natural setting.  

Travelling from Oban - Stewart Island is in modern buses and coaches with InterCity Coachlines operating a fleet of eco-friendly air conditioned buses with reclining seats and foot rests. Great Sights and Newmans Coachlines operate premier services using a fleet of modern eco-friendly air conditioned coaches featuring reclining seats with foot and head rests and onboard toilet/washroom facilities.

If you want to explore and see New Zealand's unique scenic beauty from Invercargill, there are a range of flexible 'Book As You Go' bus, scenic coach, ferry travel and sightseeing passes giving you value for money travel.

Your 'Book As You Go' flexible bus, scenic coach and ferry pass, allows you to travel through out New Zealand on New Zealand's largest regional and national bus, coach, scenic coach, ferry and sightseeing network, that includes Cook Strait ferry sailings between the North and South Islands, sightseeing tours - like dolphin watching cruises in the Bay of Islands and lots more. Travel is discounted, so you will be saving money, as you travel plus it gives you total freedom to alter your plans whenever you want.

Set your own itinerary and travel when you want, as your 'Book As You Go' flexible bus, scenic coach and ferry pass is valid for 12 months so you can stay a while and leave when you please.