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My wife and I are planning a trip to Stewart Island before the end of the year. It will probably only be the two of us and a hut would be preferred. It would be good to have access to walking tracks and some fishing (as well as hunting of course). Any suggestion on blocks that would fit this bill from you experienced Stewart Island visitors?
Cavalier, if you can get on it.
PM @223nut as He's pretty good with advice down there.
Walking tracks is tricky, limits you to somewhere round the nw circuit. Pick somewhere between port william and yankee river and watertaxi in with whatever you need then walk out with venison...
I really liked the Yankee River, Christmas Village and Bungaree huts when I walked the NW circuit. Handy rocks to fish off at all three. Yankee River was a more basic hut without the view, but had penguins in the river and I had a good chat to a fawn near the hut! Bush seemed extra thick in that area though. Track to Mt Anglem is somewhere around that area for a day hike.
Try Little Glory. You can get there bywater taxi so not overly expensive once you get to the island. Good block to hunt, good hut,and reasonable fishing if you hire a dingy
Have a look at what I posted on it.
What is your wife looking to get out of it?
Also what do you want out of it?
Dose she want you want to walk?
Do you want to have the place to your selves (if so get off the main walking tracks) Abraham’s bay type blocks.
Also budget? Iván pm you what I spent! Water taxi was not that cheap! But they did provide a good service.
Sorry can’t edited.
Doses she want to walk on walking tracks?
I'd definitely recommend getting a block with a hut.
I've been there once and ended up getting a block with no hut (Rollers Beach). It was Easter and rained every day - never all day just an hour or so once or twice a day, but enough that without a hut we could never dry gear out properly etc.
Fred's camp
Access by water taxi
Fishing easy
Hut
Track one way takes you hilly hunting
Track other way takes you flat lands
Pleanty to discover
Diving is a bit rubbish unless you have a boat
Yep or freshwater day trip up rocky mountain or over night to masons bay (can spend 3days there easy) Can be busy with trampers over summerQuote:
Originally Posted by Boxton
Great information guys. Thanks. I think we are beginning to narrow it down.
The following has been circulated by Real Journeys which will have implications for whitetail deer hunters.
From 1st June 2017 the following rules apply to the carriage of fuel and/or gas on Stewart Island Ferry.
Limits
• 4 x 20 litre certified fuel containers (80 litre maximum, petrol or diesel)
• 5 x 9 kg gas bottles (50 kg maximum, flammable gas incl. LPG)
As per the Dangerous Goods Act, if any flammable gas is carried, the maximum fuel allowance is reduced to 50 litres. Empty containers are treated the same as full containers, so all containers need to be booked.
1. All fuel and gas must be pre-booked and pre-paid. Price is $5 per full container. Please book direct at the Bluff Visitor Terminal.
2. All fuel must be accompanied by a ferry passenger. No fuel will be transported unaccompanied.
3. There are no storage facilities at either Bluff of Oban for dangerous goods.
NO FUEL OR GAS IS TO BE CARRIED IN FREIGHT BINS.
Rifles to be carried in hard cases.
Luggage Limits
Two bags per person, both will be stored in freight bins plus one small bag ie handbag size,
which can be taken in the cabin.
Freight limits
Equivalent of two bags or five banana boxes.
Hunting and tramping parties.
The above limits apply to hunting and tramping groups. These limits include the carriage of fuel and inflammable gas. Hunting parties often require additional luggage and should be organised in advance. Please contact Bluff Visitor Terminal to arrange. Additional luggage/freight will be charged at $35 per bin or part thereof. We encourage all groups reconfirm their bookings with Bluff Visitor Terminal prior to day of departure.
All fuel etc needs to be booked in advance. Please call to avoid disappointment.
However, on the positive side:-
Pete Ross Automotive at 14 Ayr Street, Halfmoon Bay
(beside the Community Centre) has the following supplies:
Petrol
Diesel
LPG Gas Bottle refills (and gas bottles to hire on short term rental)
Coal
Wood (large fadges or small bags)
Kindling
Fuelite (White Spirits)
Fuel Containers
2-stroke Oils (General, Marine and Motorcycle)
CRC and WD40
Car and Boat batteries
9v Batteries and small batteries for watches etc
We have available for hire:
Gas rings, Tents.
Contact Pete Ross on 03 2191 266 or email peterossauto@xtra.co.nz They are quite happy to meet hunters off the ferry and deliver down anything they may require, or liaise in with the charter operators.
@Sideshow thats from 2017 (still applicable) have heard there will be an addition to this list regarding firearms (must be in locakbel hard case, signed for and picked up withen 30mins of ferry arrival).
And for those that whinge about the auckland fuel tax.... $2.90/l for 91 with no tunnels, traffic lights, roundabouts and only 2 bridges
Have a yarn to all the main hunting party operators (including Southern Air), often they'll combine a trip (especially for two of you) with a big party and you can get a bit further away for your money. Kilbride Homestead (private, but can be hired) is close to fishing (Cavalier is a bit of a walk,Martins Creek a lot further) and great walking and should be good hunting.
There is some good advice on blocks here http://www.fishnhunt.co.nz/forum/YaB...num=1200097598
I have read that it pays to keep someone in camp on the north south track blocks.
Freds camp I’ve been to and is good.
South west arm also good. Heard there’s kiwis running around on the beach there.
Abraham’s bay was ok but hard to hunt if you do go have a read of my thread The Trip.
Also pm me as I have gps spots on high seats and fishing spots.
If your good lady has a smart phone get here to down load the map toaster.
You also get some phone coverage from the hut here.
I think most of the northern blocks have phone coverage.
Car park opposite the ferry terminal was free.
Hard case for rifles going on ferry.
We took a little genny to charge phones. But you can get away with battery banks.
The best advice for the huts was.
Take a file for the axe! Also a sharp saw! From the wear house single mattress covers you slide all over the place otherwise.
Plenty of bin liners as some of the huts have a load of rubbish left by other parties.
We had a big clean up and took four bags of crap away from Abraham’s bay.
From leftover sauce bottles holly gum boots broken fins stuffed frying pans etc.
Have a great trip and enjoy looking forward to the trip report when your back.
Or just get a room somewhere in Halfmoon Bay and a rental car . Book the open zone and hunt that close to the bay. Walking tracks everywhere. Rocks to fish off and charter boats for fishing to if that's your thing. Its great to have a shower after a hunt and fish and chips up the road.
A shower and fish and chips sounds tempting but we want to be a bit more adventurous than staying in a motel and driving 5km to the road end. I am sure there is some good hunting around there that you locals know about but I am not going there just for the hunting. Even if I do see animals I may not shoot anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by ghosts
At the moment we are erring towards flying fixed wing into one of the northern/western blocks. Hopefully there won't be trampers walking past every 5 minutes.
View from the dunny is spectacular especially sunrise and sunset.....if your not lost in the bush...cogh cough @wekamanQuote:
Originally Posted by 223nut
Fair enough. Trampers will be quite thick from about now on. Especially the nor-west circuit or the Maori beach to North arm and back to the Bay.
Doughboy is quite a spectacular block. Does get a few hardy trampers but the plane will land you on the beach with a hundred yd stroll to the hut. Not a lot of deer but they are there. As are rocks for fishing off. Kiwis all over the place and quite a remote part of the Island. Just don't freak to much about the plastic that gets washed up there from around the world, though Masons Bay gets it to.
If you're thinking of a flight then Doughboy is a great suggestion, probly nothing better for the "real" Stewart Is and fishing, you might even find some ambergris . . . .
Did you settle on Smoky?Quote:
Originally Posted by Shearer
Yeah we have booked it. Very small window of opportunity to fly in though due tides. No wonder it isn't booked much.Quote:
Originally Posted by wtd