Sunday, June 8, 2008

On the edge...

North Arm, Stewart Island

The most southern point of Oceania is Stewart Island in New Zealand witch is accessed by copter, plane or ferry but have to be careful when booking return ticket because the island is not so small as it looks. Being almost twice the size of Hiiumaa in Estonia and having only 400 inhabitants, all living in main town Oban, makes it mostly deserted and covered with wild bush, soft moss and muddy swamps.

Island has amazing bird life beginning with famous kiwis witch are under
protection to fantails and robins who follow your walks and sometimes come so close you can almost touch them. Deer, possums, cats, rats and other animals are introduced in last few hundred years. Department of Conservation (DOC), witch is the biggest land owner in NZ, wants to get rid of those animals to protect the unique bird life and return the island to its original state. They are still using 1080 poison even when its banned in most countries in the world but luckily its washed out by heavy rain falls and hopefully soon they find other ways to solve the problem.

Northern part of the island has tramping tracks and is covered with DOC huts witch are used also by hunters. Shortest walk is has nice broad walk and takes 3 days. You can shorten your trip with water taxi or plane witch lands on the long beaches when the tide is low.

It all makes the island quite popular among bird watchers and trampers around the world but unfortunately the southern part of the island is unaccessible by land. It is probably possible to invent a track using compass and topographical map but not in the winter time when it will be more like a army operation. Because you have to sleep outside and water in the mountains is collected between strong bush roots witch may lead to being stuck in few feet mud. Perfect way to see around is kayaking in good weather conditions.