Thread: Stewart Island

Any experiences Rakiura people on here, looking at heading down to walk ideally both the souther and northern circuits at once over 14 days.
Just seeing if anyone who’s been down there a bit has advise on weather over the season? Mostly regarding rainfall as the tracks can be prone to flooding and mud holes.
Anyone done the walks and have 10 cents of opinions on it?
Be a first time down there so any advise is welcome.

@223nut

There's several youtubes of dudes who have walked the entire island. Go look them up

Cheers mate will do.

Got friends doing the southern circuit now. We got heavy rain and winds forecast so they will be hunkering down somewhere. Nor west circuit is easier as huts spaced out for entire walk and better track. 14 days seams that you'll be doing some big walking days to achieve your goal. There will be alot of mud and water at the moment.

Yea I just based that off doc saying the southern is 4-6 days and northern is 9-11 days, so plan off about 14-15 days. From what I’ve read the walking times they give are pretty accurate and I’m happy as to walk 10 hour days with the odd shorter/longer days as you bounce from hut to hut.
I’m looking at late October/Novemeber or even early December if need be. Apparently the place doesn’t start to get real busy until after Xmas (the township that is).
Be interested to hear your mates review/opinion on the southern circuit and if it’s worth doing? Some tramping blogs said it’s not but I also think it’d be wicked to do them both.

Would be an awesome trip to do, it’s on my bucket list

Ive done the southern a few times from Rakiahua hut to Doughboy and back. Ive not done the Nor-West completely as I find tramping for the sake of it not much fun. Theres also the Tin range to Pegasus if your really wanting a leg stretcher. I tell people that Stewy Is is a big little Island and don't take it for granted. I remember a bloke who set off to run around it. He got part of the way around and got hypothermia and was found alive naked waving at the heli that was looking for him. Sounds like you've done your homework and Nov Dec would be a great time to head away with long daylight hours etc.

It really doesn't matter when you go it will rain at some stage and there will be plenty of puddles.

But it isn't really cold in the winter. Just cool and damp.
Similarly it doesn't usually get super hot in the summer.

Having said that I did spend 10 days there in the village one December a few years ago and it didn't rain once.
And they were on the verge of declaring a drought.

In the winter its really hard to keep bedding dry and warm

Best prepare for and expect 4 seasons in one day.

I’ve seen snow in Oban enough times now to tell you first hand it gets cold.

November /December is the time – shoulder of the peak season.

If you need a place to store gear etc then let me know.

I was recently down for the second time hiking and hunting. We spent time around Rakeahua and Freshwater inlet, day tripped over to masons bay etc. It was pretty muddy when we were there. Lots of holes that would easily eat your leg.

We had dry boots for the first few hours and that was about it. Still well worth it though.

If you don't mind walking with wet feet then I'd say you'd still be okay going down relatively soon - Wasn't too cold when we were there.

I highly recommend bringing more socks than you think you'll need.

Not long back from 10 days camping at Lucky’s. Track was very wet and getting worse as you head further around. Tramper numbers were very light. Coming through at an average of about two a day so plenty of room in the huts.