From Stewart Island: Ulva Island Explorer Tour with Paterson Inlet Cruise, Dunedin
From Stewart Island: Ulva Island Explorer Tour with Paterson Inlet Cruise, Dunedin
Duration: 2.5 hours (approx.)
2.5 hours (approx.)
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience
Expert local tour guide
Expert local tour guide
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Explore Ulva Island and Paterson Inlet on this guided tour departing from Stewart Island, near Dunedin, New Zealand. Board a catamaran for an beautiful cruise through pristine waters to witness native wildlife such as little blue penguins and fur seals in their natural habitat. The journey includes sailing across the sheltered waterway of Paterson Inlet, surrounded by golden beaches and lush coastal forests.
Explore Ulva Island and Paterson Inlet on this guided tour departing from Stewart Island, near Dunedin, New Zealand. Board a catamaran for an beautiful cruise through pristine waters to witness native wildlife such as little blue penguins and fur seals in their natural habitat. The journey includes sailing across the sheltered waterway of Paterson Inlet, surrounded by golden beaches and lush coastal forests.
Explore Stewart Island's pristine wilderness with this guided wildlife adventure that offers nature enthusiasts a chance to spot rare birds and cruise scenic waters.
Navigate the picturesque Paterson Inlet on board a catamaran while observing fur seals, penguins, and seabirds along hidden coves and sandy beaches.
Experience Ulva Island’s predator-free sanctuary with an expert guide as you traverse lush rainforests home to rare saddlebacks, yellowheads, and weka.
Discover the native flora of Dunedin's rainforest while listening to tūī and bellbirds beneath towering rimu and southern rātā trees in this guided exploration.
Ulva Island was once known as Coopers Island before it was renamed after Scotland’s Ulva in the Inner Hebrides, highlighting its historical connection with early settlers.
Entry for a 90-minute small-group guided tour at the Ulva Island Wildlife Sanctuary
Access to the Paterson Inlet aboard a catamaran cruise
Use of live commentary during your time on board
A knowledgeable local guide providing expert insights
Accommodation shuttles
Tourists disembarking from boat at Ulva Island, New Zealand, surrounded by lush greenery.
Welcome to a Wildlife Haven
This guided adventure takes you across the pristine Paterson Inlet waters and onto Ulva Island's untouched beauty. Discover native wildlife while exploring this natural haven.
Getting Started on Your Adventure
The tour begins at Stewart Island dock, where you'll board a comfortable catamaran for an beautiful cruise through scenic vistas. Keep your camera handy to capture moments of little blue penguins and fur seals along the way.
What You Can Anticipate
- Sail through Paterson Inlet, a sheltered waterway bordered by golden beaches and lush forests. As you search for seabirds like albatrosses and sooty shearwaters, your captain will share tales of the island’s long history.
- Ulva Island is a sanctuary free from predators, home to rare native birds. Traverse sandy shores into ancient podocarp forests where moss-covered trees provide refuge for weka, saddlebacks, yellowheads, and the elusive Stewart Island robin.
- A guided nature walk on well-maintained trails awaits you. Your local guide will unveil secrets of this thriving ecosystem with stories about conservation success while pointing out orchids under towering rimu trees and listening to bellbirds' melodic calls.
Conclude your exploration by relaxing during the boat ride back to Stewart Island, savoring a salty breeze and perhaps spotting dolphins before docking. This marks the end of an exciting day explored in nature on New Zealand’s southernmost reaches.
Tourists walking through lush forest on Ulva Island.
Couple interacting with a bird on a serene beach, surrounded by lush greenery.
Tourists disembarking from boat at Ulva Island, New Zealand, surrounded by lush greenery.
Tourists walking through lush forest on Ulva Island.
Couple interacting with a bird on a serene beach, surrounded by lush greenery.
Visitors walking along the beach on Ulva Island with forested backdrop.
This experience is not suitable for wheelchair users. However, guide dogs and service animals are permitted at the venue.
- Please wear non-slip shoes or boots along with a waterproof jacket, warm sweater or fleece jacket, sunscreen/sunglasses, insect repellent, a camera, and any personal medication (including those needed for asthma and allergies).
Infants must be held on laps throughout the cruise.
If you wish to pre-order a picnic lunch box at an additional cost, contact the tour operator directly. Orders should be placed by 12pm the day before travel using the phone number provided on your voucher. For dietary requirements such as vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free or vegan options, please inform them in advance for accommodations.
Tourists descending wooden stairs through lush greenery to reach the beach.
Young woman in a yellow jacket exploring lush island forest.
Visitors walking along the beach on Ulva Island with forested backdrop.
Tourists descending wooden stairs through lush greenery to reach the beach.
Young woman in a yellow jacket exploring lush island forest.
Book your visit in advance during peak times to ensure availability for this popular nature tour.
Wear non-slip shoes or boots and bring a waterproof jacket, warm sweater, sunscreen/sunglasses, insect repellent, a camera, and personal medication as needed before setting out on the cruise and island exploration.
If you have guide dogs or service animals, rest assured they are welcome to accompany you throughout this wildlife adventure.
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