At a Glance
Explore New Zealand’s Stewart Island at your own pace on a luxury 7-day cruise, showcasing the best of its pristine coastal wilderness. Stay onboard the luxury Fiordland Jewel and uncover the haven of wildlife on an island where brown kiwi or Tokoeka, outnumber humans.
Begin your journey in Queenstown where you will be transferred to Bluff to catch the express catamaran to Stewart island before boarding the Fiordland Jewel. Cruise to Paterson Inlet and visit Ulva Island bird sanctuary with the chance to explore its myriad of birdlife on the predator-free island. Head to the historic Norwegian whaling station in Prices Inlet and kayak Kaipipi Bay. Continue on to Port Adventure Bay, a popular place for fishing, diving and hunting and uncover its inlets, coves and bays. Discover the beaches and ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Queenstown return private transfers
- Linen & bath towels
- Use of top-deck hot tub
- Round Trip Ferry transfer between Bluff and Obran
- 6 nights onboard the Fiordland Jewel in a Captain Cook King cabin, on a twin share basis
- All meals while on board (cater to special dietary requirements) and complimentary tea & coffee. Excludes beverages purchased from our licensed bar onboard
- Toiletries available - Body wash & Shampoo/Conditioner (Evolu)
- Activities including kayaking, tender boat excursions, walking, launching the ROV to view underwater marine life, and fishing (weather permitting)
- Crew may dive for scallops (season 1 October-15 March), paua
Itinerary
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This morning you will be picked up from Queenstown at approximately 6:00am for your onward journey to Bluff. Board the express catamaran (60minutes) from Bluff to Stewart Island before jumping on the Fiordland Jewel in Halfmoon Bay, Oban late morning. Explore the 188-kilometre coastline of Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera where post-glaciation flooding over 10,000 years ago shaped the land. Relax onboard the luxury Fiordland Jewel before enjoying top class service during your delicious three-course dinner. |
Fiordland Jewel
Dinner |
This morning you will spend time exploring Ulva Island bird sanctuary, a pristine forested island playing host to beautiful beaches and a myriad of birds thanks to its predator-free environment. Watch out for numerous endangered species form the South Island Saddleback, Yellowhead and Rifleman to the Stewart Island Brown Kiwi. Later, visit the historic Norwegian whaling station in Prices Inlet and/or leisurely kayak the coastline and view the rocky islets of Kaipipi Bay. Scan the skies for the vast number of se birds flying above or the waters in hopes of spotting frequenting sea lions, dolphin porpoise or a blue penguin. Following your kayaking journey, cruise on to the bay Port Adventure at the mouth of Paterson Inlet and south of The Neck, a famed narrow peninsula separating the Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera from Foveaux Strait. This is the site of a settlement of 30 Maori who arrived from The Neck in 1843. Bottle-nosed dolphins are frequent visitors here and is a popular place for fishing, diving and hunting. |
Fiordland JewelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Cruise the coast from Port Adventure to Port Pegasus along the rocky coast dotted with the occasional beach. South of Lords River/Tutaekawetoweto, you will see the beautiful, exposed cliffs. The gradual downward settling of the ground’s surface has created drowned river valleys such as Tikotatahi Bay, Tutaepawhati Bay and Big Kuri Bay. On arrival to Port Pegasus, take time to enjoy a short walk on land or explore the waters by kayak before you settle down for dinner and return to your cabin for a good night’s rest for tomorrows activities. |
Fiordland JewelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Today you will have time to explore the large, sheltered harbour on the south-east coast. Discover its inlets, coves and bays with many safe and sheltered anchorages for on and off land explorations. First chartered by William Stewart in 1809, uncover the North and South Arm, opening from four major passages leading to the ocean. Kayak the waters and take to the trails on walk with fantastic opportunities to see pelagic seabird and wildlife. |
Fiordland JewelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Relax onboard as you commence your journey back to Oban along the west or east coast, keeping an eye out for wildlife. |
Fiordland JewelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
This morning you will depart the Fiordland Jewel at 7:30am for the 8:00am express catamaran to Bluff. Arrive in Bluff at 9:00am. You will then take a private transfer back to Queenstown to commence your onward journey. Estimated Queenstown arrival time is approx. 11:30am. NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
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Dates & Prices
The price is for a King/Twin cabins with private ensuite, based on twin share. Upgrade to a Governor King Cabin is available at an additional cost. Please contact us for private charter or group bookings.
More Info
The departure and finishing point is Queenstown, NZ
Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Queenstown
Arrival: Pickup from Queenstown on Day 1 at approx. 6:00am. Check-in at Stewart Island Ferry Terminal Bluff at 9:15am. Travel to Stewart Island on the express catamaran (60 minutes) on the 09:45am departure from Bluff.
Departure: Travel from Stewart Island on the express catamaran (60 minutes) on the 8:00am. Arrival back in Bluff at 9:00am. Transfer to Queenstown and estimated arrival time is 11:30am.
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.
