southland

Southland

Highlights

  • Great seafood
  • Base for hikers
  • Birdwatching

Proximity

From Halfmoon Bay you can launch yourself onto the tracks of Rakiura National Park. It’s a fishing town, so expect fantastic seafood.

Halfmoon Bay is the only settlement on Stewart Island, New Zealand's third largest island. It’s a fishing town that also serves as a base for hikers and birdwatchers. Most of the island’s hiking tracks start here; others can be accessed by water taxi.

Birdlife is prolific – around the coast there are sooty shearwaters, mollymawks, cape pigeons and various types of penguin; while hiking inland, you’ll see and hear bellbirds, tui, fantails, kaka and many more. With a guide, you can watch kiwi feeding on sandhoppers at the beach.

There’s a range of essential shops in the town and a choice of places to eat. Functional facts: Approx. population 400, Department of Conservation Visitor Centre, ferry service from Bluff, flights from Invercargill.

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