The birds are now protected species, but introduced rats, opossum and feral cats take their toll. Fortunately stoats and ferrets, scourge of native birds on mainland New Zealand, have never been introduced to Stewart Island. Tourism Walking tracks in, and near, the village, allow even the least active to experience New Zealand bush and birdlife much as it was on the mainland 150 years ago. An evening trip to see kiwi almost guarantees seeing New Zealand s national bird in the wild. Water taxis and hire sea kayaks let folk explore further afield.
More energetic folk can go tramping.
The three day Rakiura Track is very popular in summer. The Northern Circuit is a ten day tramp round the coast of the top third of the Island. A series of bunk huts provide shelter, but you have to carry your own gear and food. It s a great trip for fitter folk. Both Scottish red deer and American Virginia deer were liberated in the early 1900s.