Stewart Island advice

Got South Tikotatahi in early June. After some advice from those who have been down there before. Wouldn't mind taking my inflatable and outboard (3.8m Zodiac, 25hp Mariner) so boating down to the block from Oban.
Would it be cheaper/easier to try find a charter to go straight from Bluff to the block? 6 people going. Any suggestions for a charter to use either direct from Bluff or from Oban?
If we go across on the ferry can I leave my inflatable pumped up and ready to go? It's a bit of a chore getting it all set up so I have it up all the time and would rather not pack it down if I can help it.

Hey mate ol man is there as we speak if u want I can put u in touch with him when he gets home next week

That's a bit of a haul in a wee rubber duck in anything other than perfect weather. And 6 people would be two to three trips, going by the enormous qty of gear people seem to take on those trips!!!

But yes, a boat is almost essential to get the most out of your trip down there :)

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Originally Posted by XR500

That's a bit of a haul in a wee rubber duck in anything other than perfect weather. And 6 people would be two to three trips, going by the enormous qty of gear people seem to take on those trips!!!

But yes, a boat is almost essential to get the most out of your trip down there :)

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I don't mean I want to take the inflatable from Oban to the block, I mean I want to take it across on the ferry and then tow or put it on the deck of a charter lol

ring Ian on the Aurora charters (0272289388) He meets you at bluff and takes you away down the Island, he

Two months shy of 20 years since I was there,five guys took seven,all bowshot. Dropped off from Bluff by Herbie, hired a dinghy from him.
Was a tarp camp then.
Take a bag of coal

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I don't mean I want to take the inflatable from Oban to the block, I mean I want to take it across on the ferry and then tow or put it on the deck of a charter lol

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I know you are a good keen man, just wasn't sure if you were THAT keen!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Been planning a trip for 2022 myself, and there's plenty of YT's showing rubber ducks and tinnys on the back of the big boats dropping parties off. Also some tinny's on the Stewart Island ferry from bluff. So keen to find out from others what the best option is too. Been 30 years since I was down there.

Watched a YT last night of one VERY keen type who walked and pack rafted all the way from Oban to Port Pegasus and back:ORLY:

The ferry lifts on and off just fine with a hiab, we did that with our inflatable. Sits on the deck. I've also done that with sea kayaks. They don't care. Then got a water taxi to tow it to our block. Simples.

Check out this link ,Island Links -Ian or Mana would do the trick for you https://www.rhct.org.nz/index.php .

If it’s a Maori block you will only be able to use Aurora or Mana charters?

In which case it is probably cheaper and less hassle to charter the boat from Bluff especially if your flexible with the timing. Ring Ian at Aurora Charters as depending on your change over day you maybe able to be back loaded or share trip costs with other parties from Bluff as I know he is flat out filling last years cancelled bookings.

We have just had Chew Tabbaco and were told if we can make it to bluff a day early then we could jump in with a few other parties Mana is doing the same. Ian put us up for the night at Oban as we were a day early and we were away the next morning to our block. Haven’t been invoiced yet but it will be considerably cheaper than the 3k it costs us the year before to hire the boat ourselves.

He will take your inflatable boat easy the crowd we dropped off at North Tikotatahi had a 5m Staicraft – and an impressive amount of piss!!

Nice block don't let people tell you there all close to the coast I was going right back and seeing anything up to 10 a day,
Plus I think they weren't as spooky.
Mind you that was nearly 25yrs ago

How does it typically work getting out of Stewart island blocks? Do you just set up a time with a water taxi and they pick you up where they dropped you off? What happens if you get lost and don’t make it back to the shore in time for pickup?
Keen on mid mig glory or little glory cove one day.

PM @223nut Ryan. He will set you on the straight and narrow.