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.
