Paterson Inlet, the island's largest harbour, extends 16 kilometres from the open sea and contains 20 islands. Because of the limited land development on the island the inlet's waters are remarkably sediment-free. Stewart Island's birdlife is unusually prolific. Yellow-eyed penguins and Fiordland crested penguins can often be seen. In the forest bellbirds, tui, fantails, parakeets, shining cuckoos and wood pigeons are common.
Trampers can also see and hear grey warblers, kaka, tomtits and robins.
The tidal flats of Paterson Inlet host a variety of wading birds including the New Zealand dotterel, oyster catchers, herons and godwits. Whitetail deer, red deer and possums have modified the forest and possums, cats and three varieties of rats take their toll on native birds. Getting There Access to Stewart Island is by regular air flights from lnvercargill or a ferry service from Bluff. Halfmoon Bay, the island's only settlement has a general store, Department of Conservation visitor centre, hotel, motel, lodge, and backpacker accommodation as well as cafes. The track effectively starts and finishes in Halfmoon Bay though the first sections are on road.