Explore Ulva Island with Ulva's Guided Walks on Stewart Island, New Zealand. 

  

Ulva's Guided Walks was named by the owner, Ulva Goodwillie - who just happens to be named after the Island. Ulva is a direct descendant of the first Maori peoples of Stewart Island and is passionate and knowledgeable about the place she calls home. Ulva and her team of specialist birding and natural history guides will provide you with a unique experience, learning about native flora and fauna from a Maori and local Stewart Island perspective. 

 

Guided tour options:

  

Beautiful Birding & Botany: half day guided walk on Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary 

We share Ulva Island with all kinds of amazing birds, wildlife and plants - discover the unique, rare and endangered birds and plants at close quarters. Exquisite seasonal orchids, native and endemic birdlife that will come too close for your camera lens. Our gentle amble will lead you through beautiful botanical forest alive with birdsong.

• Duration: We walk for 3.5 hours, including steps, beach walking and transfer between wharf and boat so some agility is required.

 

Birding Classic full day: Ulva Island guided walk + seabird watching

Begin with our Beautiful Birding & Botany half day guided walk on Ulva Island to discover the unique, rare and endangered birds and plants at predator-free Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary.  At lunchtime depart Ulva Island for an afternoon seabird watching boat excursion.  Expect to see albatross, penguins, shearwaters, petrels, terns and other wildlife.

• Duration 8.30am to 4.30pm. 
• Our walks are gentle but there are steps and beach walking at Ulva Island and agility is required to transfer between wharf and boat.
• Not suitable for children or those known to suffer with motion sickness.

 

Kiwi spotting: evening tour at Mamaku Point Conservation Reserve

The evening begins well after sunset for a pre-tour briefing on etiquette when viewing kiwi in the wild. Drive to Stewart Island’s Mamaku Point Conservation Reserve, where Ulva’s Guided Walks has exclusive rights to operate kiwi spotting tours. Enter the reserve via a simple quarantine enclosure to begin the search for Stewart Island Brown Kiwi (Tokoeka) in its natural environment. Terrain includes walking on muddy/wet tracks, native bush, very uneven ground, some gradients and sandy beach. Tour takes place in the dark!

• Duration 2-3 hours. Departure time changes monthly according to sunset.
• Courtesy transfer to accommodation when tour ends.
• A good level of fitness and agility is essential. Not suitable for children or clients with walking sticks/frames or wheelchairs. 

 

Birding Bonanza ultimate bird watching package: full day plus evening

Ulva Island guided walk + seabird watching + evening kiwi spotting

All three of our tours packaged into one incredible bird watching experience! 

• Typically operates Monday evening (as per kiwi spotting detailed above) and Tuesday full day 8.30am to 4.30pm (as per Birding Classic above).
• A good level of fitness and agility is essential. 
• Not suitable for children or clients with walking sticks/frames or wheelchairs, or those known to suffer with motion sickness.  
• 3.5 to 4 hours of walking at Ulva Island.
• 3.5 to 4 hours onboard a boat.
• 2 to 3 hours walking in the dark on muddy/wet tracks, uneven ground, gradients, beach.

  

CONTACT DETAILS: 

  

Ulva’s Guided Walks 

Ulva Goodwillie 

PO Box 85 

Stewart Island, 9846 

Phone: +64 27 688 1332 

Text or WhatsApp:  +64 27 688 1332

info@ulva.co.nz 

www.ulva.co.nz