Free tea and coffee offered onboard and the captain gave commentary on points of interest. Fly to Invercargill, ferry, travel • 8h 20m. If you need more specific answers, please contact us directly. Please note: If you want to book a ferry combination that is unavailable online then please contact us directly info@sie.co.nz and we will be happy to help. Specials. Bluff was not firmly established as a settlement until 1823, with the first record of a European vessel entering Bluff Harbour in 1813 when an expedition from Sydney came to investigate trading in flax. See also: newzealand.com terms of use. School holiday periods usually have a special deal where a child travels free with a paying adult, which was great for our group. In addition to this we also have portable defibrillators at the following locations:•    Milford Sound Visitor Terminal•    Real Journeys Visitor Centre, Manapouri•    Cavern House (Te Anau Glowworm Caves)•    Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant, Walter Peak•    TSS Earnslaw Vintage Steamship•    Stewart Island Ferry (Bluff - Oban - Bluff). A wonderful experience, thank you ❤, Excellent service from the Stewart Island ferry company. Experience Foveaux Strait onboard our express catamarans. Ulva Island is in Paterson Inlet, a short boat trip away. Yes, day and overnight vehicle parking is located adjacent to the Bluff Visitor Terminal (extra cost) for visitors taking the ferry to Stewart Island. We had fairly calm waters but was still a little rough. Read more. Recommend. The cruise was enjoyable but cruise but the highlight of the trip and worth a five-star rating was the hour or guided tour on Ulva Island. Recommend to all visitors to the Deep South.Visited March 2017, Our trip over and back was so calm... staff were friendly and very helpful ... nice way to meet travellers visiting the island.Visited March 2017, Been told all kinds of tales about this trip but we couldn't have asked for better. Travel to Stewart Island. Stewart Island Ferry services offer scheduled daily departures on board our express catamarans between Bluff and Stewart Island (all year). Atualizações de viagem do Coronavirus (COVID-19) de nossos parceiros de ferry. We went to Stewart Island by the ferry for the day and included the Paterson Inlet cruise in our package. Alex1522, Stewart Island, NZ via TripAdvisor. Prices for parking and additional baggage can be found on the "More Info" tab of our Stewart Island Ferry page. Some campsites are for the exclusive use of those arriving by human- or wind-powered watercraft. 1. Stewart Island is the third largest in New Zealand, lying 30 kilometres south of the mainland’s southernmost tip. Read more. The Stewart Island Experience passenger ferry cruises across the Foveaux Strait from Bluff to Halfmoon Bay, Oban. How rough does it have to be before you cancel the sailing? Please be aware the return ferry booking are NOT CONFIRMED until you have received a confirmation from the supplier, Stewart Island Experience. Prices valid 1 October 2019 - 30 April 2021. Thanks ferry people you were great.Visited March 2017, Our captain narrated the interesting bits of the crossing and we even detoured a bit to watch an oyster ship being up its trawler full of oysters. Large, comfortable departure lounges in both Bluff and Oban were much appreciated. A little rough but added to the ride. 2. Staff were friendly and helpful, great team. There is a bar with snacks and soft and alcoholic drinks on board at fair prices. Breakfast. Parking is available for cars, campervans, bicycles, motorcycles, boat trailers and coaches. Also friendly and happy to chat with others who want the skinny on life on the island. Our staff are trained to deal with incidents and in case of an emergency you should listen to their instructions.We have a portable defibrillator on each of our overnight cruise vessels (Milford Mariner, Milford Wanderer and Fiordland Navigator). Online transactions/prices are conducted in what currency? info@stewartislandexperience.co.nz. To view cookie details and how to opt-out, please see our Cookie Policy. In 2019 Stewart Island/Rakiura was awarded Dark Sky Sanctuary accreditation by the International Dark Sky Association. If you arrive at Stewart Island by ferry, a staff member will be at the wharf to meet you and transfer you to the Lodge. Please notify us beforehand to ensure we can assist you. Thanks for the great review! **For the Return Ferry option, you must book the time you wish to travel from Bluff to Stewart Island. The crossing operates up to 14 times each week with sailing durations from around 1 hour. Experience Foveaux Strait in comfort and style on board an express catamaran 3. Stewart Island Ferry Services Cross the Foveaux Strait to Stewart Island from Bluff on our modern catamaran ferry. Whether you choose an option to experience the island from the vantage point of its magical waters or take the ferry and explore it on foot, Stewart Island makes for a great day (or several days) in New Zealand. From Queenstown to Bluff by car takes around 3 hrs 5 mins and from Dunedin approximately 3 hrs 30 minutes. The Bluff Oban ferry route connects New Zealand with Stewart Island. Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy explain how we use your data and who our partners are. Thanks for the great review! Find what to do today, this weekend, or in December. The waters in Fouveaux Strait are rough even on calm days. Stewart Island is perfect for a day excursion or an extended stay 2. Unfortunately, our bar can only operate when we have a staff member with the appropriate liquor license on board and this isn't possible for every trip. Great way to travel from Bluff to Stewart Island. View our privacy policy. Response from Real_Journeys, Guest Relations Manager at Stewart Island Ferry - Stewart Island Experience. This is specified on the Terms & Conditions page. Great way to travel from Bluff to Stewart Island. This service is not available on all ferry departures, due to the size of the vessel and the limited cargo space available. You can use AFerry to book Stewart Island Experience ferries from Bluff on the South Island of New Zealand to Oban on Stewart Island. From an easy friendly phone call booking the night before to when we returned back to Bluff it was a great experience. So what? Popular Ferry Operators. Only one hour from Bluff this is a great way to arrive at the Island. Please note: Under Alert Level 2 or higher, guests will be required to bring and wear a face mask when traveling on the Stewart Island Experience Ferry. (For those who get seasick, you would want to take some medication! In addition to above, we use other cookies and analytics to provide a better site experience. Please ensure your contact details are provided at the time of booking so that we can contact you to advise of any delays or cancellations. We had excellent conditions, calm waters way out to Stewart Island but the journey back was quite rough. We changed the time of our return trip to Bluff - no problem. Stewart Island is not the place for a shopping spree as there is a very small range of shops - from small gift shops with locally produced items to the general store for groceries and fresh food. All prices and transactions on the Real Journeys website are in New Zealand dollars (NZD). Parking is available for cars, boat trailers, coaches, campervans, motorcycles and bicycles. Pick-ups and drop-offs are available from several Invercargill accommodation properties and the Invercargill i-Site Visitor Centre. An 'interesting' trip to Oban-wind and waves but we were all well looked after by the crew!! Try turning off private browsing or incognito mode to continue. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Stewart Island, New Zealand on Tripadvisor: See 2,757 traveler reviews and photos of Stewart Island tourist attractions. Currently there is just the 1 ferry company operating this ferry service, Stewart Island Experience. Hotels near Ulva Island Ferry & Water Taxi; Hotels near Stewart Island Snorkeling Adventures; Hotels near Aihe Eco Charters & Water Taxi; Hotels near Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve; Near Airports. Yes, there are many activities you can fit into one day on Stewart Island. The ferry departs from Golden Bay several times a day (may vary in winter) and bookings are not required. Somewhat choppy water but the ferry was right on time.Visited March 2017. Listed 6 months ago $265,000. Both our journeys to and from Stewart Island is on time. The staff were alert to people feeling or being ill and very very kind discreet and caring to those who were unwell. Here's a few handy hints to help motion sickness: Ginger is known to contain properties to alleviate nausea. We are committed to providing visitors with a safe and comfortable crossing. If you arrive by air, please let us know so that we can pick you up from the airport on Stewart Island. The Ulva Island Ferry (the Ranui) is a lovely way to get to the island, with the first trip leaving at 9am. from $3,782.32* 1 … I'm not the best traveller but staff and team made it so straight forward and felt extremely safe. The ferry departs from Golden Bay several times a day (may vary in winter) and bookings are not required. Bluff therefore has the distinction of being one of the oldest, if not the oldest town in New Zealand. Stewart Island - Bluff / Bluff - Stewart Island Visit Stewart Island, considered to be New Zealand’s ultimate eco-tourism destination, just one hour’s ferry ride from Bluff. If, on rare occasions, a scheduled departure is cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, visitors will be rebooked onto a later trip or refunded in full. During the one-hour crossing between Bluff and Stewart Island keep a look out for wildlife, including seals, dolphins and sea birds 4. Rakiura Track Stewart Island is a world where nature is very much in charge. From Invercargill to bluff takes around 30 minutes. Experience Foveaux Strait onboard our express catamarans. Yes, there is a general grocery store, cafés and restaurants and a Kai cart (take-aways summer only). ), MacrobertsonA, Melbourne, Australia via TripAdvisor. What I got was a safe ferry operator who was sensible to cancel some sailings in bad weather. Our trip was lovely cruising at 20 knots in a lite sea. Cleaning and safety practices. Responded 2 weeks ago. This is a fairly straightforward ferry experience. There are a huge range of activities available on Stewart Island, from kayaking, fishing trips, golf, walking tracks and more. Seamless organisation, meeting the bus connection from Invercargill Airport, through to Bluff then on the ferry across to Stewart Island. Enjoyed the trip there and back. mollymes, Christchurch, NZ, via TripAdvisor. "glowing skies", is the Māori name), commonly known as Stewart Island, is New Zealand's third-largest island, located 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of the South Island, across the Foveaux Strait.It is a roughly triangular island with a total land area of 1,746 square kilometres (674 sq mi). Listed 3 months ago Negotiation. The next day was still a rough crossing but we got back safely. Explore Stewart Island . from $55.33* Ulva Island Explorer from Stewart Island. Stewart Island, officially Stewart Island / Rakiura (the second of the names is the island's Māori name), is the medium sized island of New Zealand - far smaller than the two main islands but far bigger than the other small islands. Rakiura Track Stewart Island is a world where nature is very much in charge. Our ferry sails from Golden Bay – over the hill from the main village in Half Moon Bay. Look out to the horizon, rather than looking at the boat's movement in the water. Stewart Island Ferry Services (Bluff - Stewart Island) operate an all-year scheduled ferry service and connecting bus service from Invercargill (and Te Anau and Queenstown - seasonal departures). Stewart Island Experience operate the daily ferry departures between Bluff on New Zealand’s South Island and Oban on Stewart Island with their express catamarans. A place you would probably only visit once in your life so worth doing everything. Coming back to Bluff the crossing was quite rough but the boat and captain could obviously handle the conditions so I was not concerned at all. Oamaru, New Zealand 238 contributions 66 helpful votes. Oban, To find out more information and to make bookings, we operate the Oban Visitor Centre. For visitors travelling on the Stewart Island Ferry Service, you are required to check in 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time (to allow for luggage loading, etc). Very helpful staff. We had a very smooth crossing to Stewart Island, and a slightly more bumpy ride back to Bluff. Stewart Island Experience's vessels are specially designed to operate on Foveaux Strait. Ulva Island Ferry & Water Taxi, Stewart Island: Hours, Address, Ulva Island Ferry & Water Taxi Reviews: 5/5 DaveD1941, Tairua, New Zealand via TripAdvisor. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. For more information refer to our. If you're looking for cheap ferries from Bluff to Stewart Island, you've come to the right place! Allow around three hours and take some water and snacks/lunch. Stewart Island / Rakiura (Rakiura, lit. Recommended option. It was a little bumpy getting out of Bluff but then really quite straightforward. Smooth crossing both ways with pleasant and informative crew. One-Way Ferry from Stewart Island to Bluff. **For the Return Ferry option, you must book the time you wish to travel from Bluff to Stewart Island. 1. During the one-hour crossing on the Stewart Island Ferry between Bluff and Oban keep a lookout for wildlife, especially seabirds. are available for hire from our Oban Visitor Centre. The captain of the vessel was able to provide a commentary and points of interest to us as we travelled over. The sea conditions on the trip to the island was very rough with large swells running but the skipper made sure we got the smoothest ride possible. Read more. Cross the Foveaux Strait to Stewart Island from Bluff on our modern catamaran ferry. Thank you. At $135/adult return trip we thought this was pretty good value and it was a unique way of seeing the mainland as well as other islands including Stewart Island from a different vantage point... and it sure beats swimming! 1. The boat/ship is a machine...it is all about the people! Bluff to Stewart Island ferry information: Bluff to Stewart Island is a domestic route in New Zealand and is operated by Stewart Island Ferry Services. A most enjoyable experience and one I would recommend. Thereafter $10 per 24 hours or part thereof. Response from Real_Journeys, Guest Relations Manager at Stewart Island Ferry - Stewart Island Experience. Please be aware the return ferry booking are NOT CONFIRMED until you have received a confirmation from the supplier, Stewart Island Experience. Ulva Island Ferry Shuttle Bus at Golden Bay. Saw dolphins. Watching mollymawks (albatross) soaring above the ferry is a fantastic sight.Comprehensive commentaries provide information on the interesting landmarks commonly seen, including Dog Island Lighthouse, Ruapuke Island, the Titi Islands and Mt Anglem - Stewart Island’s highest point. On the return journey we were on a bigger boat the sea was calmer but it didn't seem to ride the waves as well as the smaller one. Skipper & crew-who he introduced to us with their names was awesome. Is there a coach service that connects with the ferry? It was a little choppy but there were lots of birds to see. madryn, Otago, New Zealand via TripAdvisor. The Bluff Oban ferry route connects New Zealand with Stewart Island. We use cookies to provide you with a better experience on this site. Book your tickets online for Stewart Island Ferry - Stewart Island Experience, Stewart Island: See 481 reviews, articles, and 120 photos of Stewart Island Ferry - Stewart Island Experience, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 9 attractions in Stewart Island. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Bar on board, plus tea and coffee and great scenery but can be a little rough at times. This is an airport-style parking facility, so you collect a ticket on entry and pay when you leave. Accessible via ferry from the mainland, the natural sanctuary of Stewart Island is reachable in around an hour, making for an easy escape into the wild unknown. If you have limited time, day trips are possible, but will limit what you can do. The staff were really friendly and the bus connections were very smooth. For visitors travelling on the Stewart Island Ferry Service, you are required to check in 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time (to allow for luggage loading, etc).