At a Glance
Get back to nature and get up close and personal with New Zealand’s elusive Kiwi, with this 3-day, luxury escape to Stewart Island (Rakiura).
With included transfers from Queenstown or Te Anau, journey via luxury coach and ferry to Stewart Island, one of the world’s southernmost islands. In the Maori language, Stewart Island is known as Rakiura, “the land of the glowing skies”, for its stunning nighttime views of the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights). Immerse yourself in the Island’s community, history and environment, which are steeped in Maori mythology. See the elusive Southern Brown Kiwi and other rare birds in their unspoilt natural habitat. Journey to the remote Ulva Island and explore hidden coves and pristine beaches dotted with fur seals and penguins.
This luxury 3-day tour includes 2-nights in the 4-star ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Return transfer to Stewart Island from Queenstown or Te Anau.
- 2 x nights accommodation at Stewart Island Lodge on a twin share basis.
Daily continental breakfast. - Fully guided Wild Kiwi Encounter tour.
- Fully guided Village and Bays tour.
- Fully guided Ulva Island Explorer tour.
Itinerary
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Departing from Queenstown or Te Anau, journey via luxury coach and ferry to the remote island wilderness of Stewart Island. Discover the Island’s community, history and environment on a guided tour of the village and bays. Highlights include the Rakiura National Park entrance at Lee Bay, Halfmoon and Horseshoe Bays and views of Paterson Inlet from Observation Rock. Enjoy a free evening at your 4-star accommodation. |
Stewart Island Lodge
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In the morning, explore Stewart Island at your leisure with the option to hire a car, motor scooter or mountain bike. In the afternoon, cruise to Ulva Island where you will find hidden coves and unspolit beaches along with fur seals and penguins, who like to sun themselves on the rocks. Ulva Island is a renowned wildlife sanctuary where many rare and endangered native species – including weka (native wooden), bush robins, saddlebacks and yellowheads – flourish in a predator free environment. In the evening, cruise to Little Glory Cove where you can get up close and personal with the elusive Southern Brown Kiwi in its unspoilt natural habitat. |
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Walking Information: Stewart Island Lodge to Ackers Point 2.5km/1.6mi one way | 1.5hr | Easy Say farewell to Stewart Island and return to the mainland. Those returning to Te Anau begin making their way back in the morning, while those returning to Queenstown have until the afternoon to explore the Island at their leisure. Those returning to Queenstown might consider a leisurely walk out to Ackers Point, which passes the historic 1835 Stone House at Harrold Bay before reaching the Ackers Point Lighthouse. From here, enjoy panoramic views of Foveaux Straight and the chance to see blue penguins and a titi (muttonbird colony). |
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Return luxury coach transfers included to and from Queenstown and Te Anau.
Stewart Island experiences mild, instantly changing weather, which can bring four seasons in one single day. Regular heavy rains create foggy atmosphere, with lots of mud in the air, making waterproof clothing and boots compulsory for all visitors to Stewart Island. Stewart Island weather is fast changing consistently every year, making it difficult to make predictions. Strong winds may occur at any time of the year, accompanied by sudden incessant rains. Summer temperatures average 17 degrees Celsius while winter temperatures average 10 degrees Celsius.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
