Nestled in native bush on a sunny hillside, Stewart Island Lodge offers a peaceful sanctuary. Located just 5 minutes walk from the village centre.   A family owned Bed & Breakfast accommodation, there are just 5 guest rooms, all of which open onto a large balcony, and the elevated position of the Lodge offers fantastic views out over the gardens and Halfmoon Bay.    Its grounds are home to many native birds including kaka (native parrots).

It is known to be a little bit cooler from time to time this far south and there is an open fire in the private guest lounge in the main lodge where cooked breakfast and pre-dinner drinks and canapés are served.

New Zealand is always thought of as a country of two islands, one north and one south, but there is a third: Stewart Island.

Sitting quietly beneath the South Island across Foveaux Strait is Stewart Island also known as Rakiura in Maori. This translates as “Glowing Skies”, a reference to the island’s beautiful fiery sunsets and the aurora australis (Southern Lights) that are sometimes seen at this latitude.

Stewart Island is a place of surprising contrasts. It is New Zealand’s third largest island with a land area of 2000 square km and of this Rakiura National Park occupies an incredible 85%.

Despite its size it has a population of fewer than 400 friendly locals and only 25 km of roads and although it is firmly planted in the far south of NZ, the surrounding ocean maintains a very mild climate.

So much space, so few people and temperate weather has preserved Stewart Island as an almost untouched wilderness teeming with native flora and fauna.