19 Dec 2019

Shopping, Birding and Pints on Stewart and Ulva Islands

This morning the forecast was predicting 30-knots of westerly wind, but instead we woke to 15-knots and an overcast, but lovely, morning to be at Stewart Island.

Our morning was spent ashore in and around the township of Oban where there was the opportunity to enjoy any number of scenic and enjoyable walks and/or a little retail therapy with most aboard managing a bit of both and even a coffee or early pint at the South Seas Hotel.

It is always great to see the abundance of birdlife that calls Oban home with raucous Kaka flying overhead regularly and Bellbirds and Tui contributing to the island's soundtrack.

After a delicious lunch aboard and a short shift of anchorage for the Spirit of Enderby, it was time to land on Ulva Island where we were met by a fantastic team of local guides who shared their island, its wildlife and stories with us during an afternoon wandering its excellent trails.

Among the sightings were Saddleback, Yellowhead, Robin, Rifleman, Tui, Bellbirds, Kaka, Parakeets and of course Weka. Late in the day the rain set in from the east, but by then it was time to head back to the ship and set our course for Fiordland.

Image from file © C.Todd, Heritage Expeditions