Lee Bay – North Arm – Port William – Oban – Rakiura Track – Stewart Island

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18/03/2026 – 20/03/2026   Lee Bay Road – Lee Bay – Mãori Beach – Wooding Bay – Magnetic Beach – Port William – Port William Hut – North Arm Hut – North Arm – Sawdust Bay Campsite – Kaipipi Road – Ryans Creek Track – Main Road – Kairakau / Halfmoon Bay – Oban

                                                 Rakiura Track

                                                 Stewart Island / Rakiura

                                                 Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                                 Rakiura Country (Ngãi Tahu people)        

Distance: 38.6km   Total Ascent: 1275m   Total Descent: 1296m

Time: 15 hours 

Participants:  Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

Stepping through the great iron chain at Lee Bay felt like walking across the anchor of an ancient story, the bush and sea already sharing their secrets on the wind. The Rakiura Track here is a gentle, well‑benched path, undulating above the rocky shoreline before slipping into deep, damp forest where rimu and southern rātā lean over the track and the air smells of salt and leaf mould. Underfoot it was mostly firm gravel with the odd muddy patch in hollows, never technical but always asking you to watch your step.

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Kaka Point – The Catlins – Otago Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Wednesday 11/03/2026   Kaka Point Bush Walk

                                               Kaka Point Scenic Reserve                                         

                                               The Catlins

                                               Otago Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                               Kāi Tahu* (Ngāi Tahu people)                             

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Pablo Ureña Vega

We parked at the campground and stepped onto the Kākā Point Bush Walk on a mild, partly cloudy March day — cool in the shade but warm where the sun broke through. The track is a well-formed, compacted gravel loop of about 1.6 kilometres, wide and flat throughout. It’s more of a stroll than a hike, and very easy underfoot with only gentle undulations.

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Queenstown – NEW ZEALAND

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Sunday 22/03/2026   Queenstown

                                       Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago

                                       South Island, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                       Te Waipounamu – Ngāi Tahu (Kāi Tahu) rohe (Ngāi Tahu / Kāi Tahu people, incorporating Kāti Māmoe and Waitaha)             

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

We spent a late-March Sunday wandering around Queenstown — a rest day after the big hikes of the previous week. The air was cool, around the mid-teens, with a mix of sunshine and passing cloud over the Wakatipu Basin. Typical autumn weather.

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Bacon Track – Harbour Cone – Otago Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Monday 9/03/2026   Hereweka Harbour Cone Track – Bacon Track – Smiths Creek – Hereweka / Harbour Cone (315m) – Coffee Rock – Highcliff Road

                                      Hereweka / Harbour Cone – Bacon Track – Smiths Creek Circuit

                                      Hereweka / Harbour Cone Reserve, Otago Peninsula

                                      Otago Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)
                                      Ōtākou (Kāi Tahu / Kāi Tahu ki Ōtākou people)

Participants: Beth Davies, Lauren Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega

We drove to the end of Bacon Street in Broad Bay, where the Bacon Track starts from a quiet residential road and heads up through farm paddocks towards the 315-metre summit of Hereweka / Harbour Cone. The weather was perfect — clear skies, a light breeze off Otago Harbour, and warm enough for short sleeves.

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Royal Albatross Centre – Harrington Point – Otago Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Sunday 8/03/2026   Harrington Point Road – Waiwhakaheke Seabird Lookout – Taiaroa Viewing Platform – Royal Albatross Centre

                                     Taiaroa Head Nature Reserve

                                     Harrington Point, Otago Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                     Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha country (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha people)                               

Participants: Beth Davies, Lauren Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega

We drove the length of Harrington Point Road to its end at Taiaroa Head, where the bitumen runs out at the Royal Albatross Centre car park and the open Pacific announces itself with a steady southerly push. A mild, partly cloudy late-summer day — around 17 degrees — made for comfortable walking.

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Ulva Island – Stewart Island – NEW ZEALAND

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Tuesday 17/03/2026    Golden Bay (Water Taxi) – Paterson Inlet/ Whaka a Te Wera – Post Office Bay – Flagstaff Point – Conservation Walk – Boulder Beach – West End Beach – Post Office Bat Track –

                                          Ulva Island / Te Wharawhara Walking Tracks (including Flagstaff Point Lookout, Boulder Beach Track and West End Beach Track)

                                          Rakiura National Park

                                          Stewart Island / Rakiura

                                          Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                          Rakiura Country (Ngãi Tahu people)                                

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

We took the water taxi from Golden Bay across Paterson Inlet to Post Office Bay on Ulva Island on a mild March afternoon. The forest rose like a dark green wall ahead — stepping ashore, the stillness was broken only by birdsong. The island is a predator-free sanctuary and it shows.

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Oban – Half Moon Bay – Horseshoe Point – Stewart Island – NEW ZEALAND

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Monday 16/03/2026   Stewart Island Backpackers – Elgin Terrace – Mill Creek – Horseshoe Bay Road – Butterfield Beach – Horseshoe Point Road – Horseshoe Bay Beach – Horseshoe Point – Simons Beach – Sarah Cove – Braggs Bay Road – Braggs Bay – Moturau Moana Native Gardens

                                         Oban – Half Moon Bay – Horseshoe Point

                                         Stewart Island / Rakiura

                                         Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                         Rakiura Country (Ngãi Tahu people)                                 

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

We set off from the Stewart Island Backpackers in Oban on a cool March morning with scattered showers and a brisk south-westerly — typical Stewart Island weather. The route climbs out past Mill Creek and along Horseshoe Bay Road, the houses thinning as the road rises. It’s straightforward roadside walking with a steady gradient — this island is anything but flat. The views of the coast opened up nicely, with Butterfield Beach curling around below and Horseshoe Point in the distance.

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Golden Bay – Reinga Beach – Oban – Stewart Island – NEW ZEALAND

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Sunday 15/03/2026   Stewart Island Backpackers – Dundee Street – Fuchsia Walk – Roroa Walk Watercress Beach – Thule Road – Golden Bay Wharf – Golden Bay – Deep Bay Road – Reinga Beach – Petersons Hill Road  – Elgin Terrace – Oban

                                        Stewart Island / Rakiura

                                        Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                        Rakiura Country (Ngãi Tahu people)                                  

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

We spent a day wandering the bays and tracks around Oban on Stewart Island on a cool, partly cloudy March afternoon. From the Stewart Island Backpackers we headed along Dundee Street into the Fuchsia Walk — a short climb through native forest to Traill Park, then onto the Raroa Track down to quiet Watercress Bay. The forest track is well-formed with a straightforward descent.

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Waipapa Point – The Catlins – Southland Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Friday 13/03/2026   Waipapa Lighthouse Road – Waipapa Point Lighthouse – Waipapa Point

                                      Waipapa Point Coastal Walk
                                      The Catlins

                                      Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)
                                      Murihiku Country (Ngā Tahu people)               

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega

We drove to the end of Waipapa Lighthouse Road on a cool, calm March morning with high cloud lifting and light winds — perfect conditions for this exposed stretch of coast. From the road, the track is a broad, firm and almost level loop across low grass, sand and coastal scrub towards the white lighthouse tower. It’s more of a stroll than a hike, but the setting is striking.

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Slope Point – The Catlins – Southland Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Friday 13/03/2026   Slope Point Road – Slope Point – Slope Point Light Beacon Station – The Southern Most Point of New Zealand

                                     Slope Point walking track (informal farm access route across private farmland)

                                     Private farmland at Slope Point

                                     The Catlins

                                     Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                     Murihiku Country (Ngāi Tahu people)                                

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega

We drove to the end of Slope Point Road on a cool, breezy March morning. A small car park marks the start of an informal farm track across private grazing land — you need to check the gate is closed behind you. The route is a faint track threading between fence lines with sheep grazing either side. It’s flat, easy going on firm but slightly damp ground from recent showers. A steady amble rather than a hike, though the sense of exposure grows as you approach the cliff edge.

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Curio Bay – Porpoise Bay area – Southland Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Friday 13/03/2026   Waikawa-Curio Bay Rd – Curio Bay – The Headland

                                     Tumu Toka Curio Bay/Porpoise Bay area

                                     Southland Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

                                     Kāi Tahu Country (Ngāi Tahu people)                              

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega

We drove along the Waikawa-Curio Bay Road on a cool, breezy March morning with a south-westerly pushing in — clouds stacked over the Catlins coast and the air in the low teens. From the roadside, a short, easy path rolls gently down towards the sea. It’s a wide, well-formed track of gravel, compacted earth and boardwalk with just a few steps and short slopes. Very easy going.

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Nugget Point – Catlins Coastal Area – Otago Region – NEW ZEALAND

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Wednesday 11/03/2026   Kaimātaitai Carpark – Nugget Point/Tokata Walk – Tokata Lighthouse (Nugget Point Lighthouse, 9 m tower, first lit 1870) – Viewing Platform – The Nuggets – The Nuggets Road – Roaring Bay Track – Roaring Bay Penguin Viewing Hide – Roaring Bay – Molyneux Bay

                                               Nugget Point/Tokata Walk; Roaring Bay Walk
                                               Nugget Point Totāra Scenic Reserve, Catlins Coastal Area

                                               Otago Region, NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)
                                               Kāi Tahu (Kāi Tahu people)                      

Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pablo Ureña Vega

We drove to the Kaimātaitai carpark on a crisp, mostly fine morning with a north-westerly breeze and thin cloud — typical changeable Catlins weather in early March. The Nugget Point/Tokata Walk starts from the carpark and heads gently uphill along a wide, well-formed gravel path. It’s more like a coastal lane than a bush track, firm underfoot and easy walking despite the steady climb out along the headland.

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