Stewart Island (Rakiura) is New Zealand's 'third' main island. Off the bottom of the South Island, it's easy to reach from the city of Invercargill, in Southland.
By Ferry
Duration: 1 hour
Daily ferries cross the Foveaux Strait from Bluff (17 miles/28 kms south of Invercargill) to Oban on Stewart Island. These are passenger-only ferries, and don't take cars. You may get lucky and see seals or dolphins on the way.
If you don't have your own car, buses and shuttles travel from Invercargill to Bluff.
In the busy season (summer and autumn), ferries run three or four times a day, whereas the rest of the year they run two or three times per day.
By Air
Duration: 20 minutes
Flights leave Invercargill Airport for Oban three times a day. They run on different summer and winter schedules. The views across the Foveaux Strait are impressive, although nervous fliers may not like the idea of flying on the small fixed-wing airplanes very much!