Ulva Island is a small island off the coast of Rakiura (Stewart) Island. This predator free island is full of native birds, native forest, and trails to explore.
I’ve now been to a few predator free islands and reserves and always find them enjoyable. These sanctuaries offer a glmpse into what life must have been like before people came to New Zealand. A trip to Rakiura or Stewart Island wouldn’t be complete without a day spent on Ulva Island. It costs a little bit of money, but it’s well worth the cost. We saw an abundance of native birds including, weka, saddleback, robins, and more!
Ulva Island Logistics
Highlights – Native forest, beaches, and native birds.
Location – Rakiura/Stewart Island
Access – 10 minute boat ride from Rakiura Island, leaving from Golden Bay.
Walks – Several short, easy walks from 30 – 50 minutes
About Ulva Island
The majority of the island is owned by the Department of Conservation and is part of Rakiura National Park. It is managed as an eco-sanctuary, described as – a place where native plants and birds can live in a safe environment and the public can enjoy them.
A small part of the island, under 8 ha, is privately owned.
The island was protected in 1899 for the preservation of native game and flora, making it one of the first such protected areas in New Zealand. The first national park in the country, Tongariro, was designated in 1887 and the second not until 1900 (Egmont National Park).
Explore Ulva Island
The boat ride to and from Ulva Island is short, but you may get to see some birds or dolphins. On our return boat trip we were lucky and saw two different little penguins swimming in the water. I’ve seen them on land before (at Matiu/Somes Island), but never in the water.
The ferry comes ashore at the wharf in Post Office Bay. From that point you can begin walking and exploring the island. We picked up a booklet about the island that we found super helpful. In addition to showing the trails it was full of tons of facts about the flora and fauna of the island.
The trails on the island are all very well maintained and make for easy walking. We spent a few hours on the island and slowly walked all of the trails and still had time to relax on the beaches for a lunch break.
Some of the trails wander along beautiful sand beaches and others pass under a beautiful podocarp/broadleaf forest with towering rimu trees.
There are a lot of native birds on the island. Some include the usual forest birds like fantail, tui, kereru, but also rifleman, South Island saddleback, kakariki, yellowhead, and the curious Stewart Island robin.
My Insiders Tips To Exploring Ulva Island
There are only two toilets on the island, near Post Office Bay and Sydney Cove. Both are near the ferry landing, so if you are going for a longer walk I’d suggest taking care of your business first so you don’t get caught out.
Take your time and go slow. The best part of the island is the chance to see rare native birds you can’t see elsewhere. If you walk super fast, odds are you will miss them. Walk slow, bring some binoculars, and be on the lookout for saddleback, kaka, robins, and more! You may see sea lions on the beaches too.
You can explore the island either with a guide or by yourself. The guided trip is much more expensive at about $130 per person versus $20 per adult just for the ferry ride. However, you will likely learn more and get a better appreciation with a guide than you would without one.