Stewart Island is very last piece of land on the way to Antarctica.

Despite the island is pretty big (about 1800 square kilometres) it is barely populated. Only 450 people live there permanently.

To get there was quite a task. After long road you need to catch a ferry which lives Bluff three times a day.

The island itself is really unspoiled and a pure part of our world. Almost the entire Island is national park and a paradise for wild life like seals, penguins, fish, and birds. The largest population of Kiwi Bird lives on Stewart Island. They say the total number goes up to 20 000.

On a good day the water looks just unbelievable. It’s so clean you can see for few meters deep. However, the weather like that is not very often event on the island.

The Island is named for William Stewart. In 1809 he was aboard the “Pegasus”, sailing from Port Jackson, Australia, on a sealing expedition.

The "Aurora Australis", or Southern Lights is visible from the island.

Stewart Island is made of granite, some of the oldest rock in New Zealand. A wide range of minerals are present, though not in commercial quantities. Tin was mined at Port Pegasus for a few years in the 1890's. There's black iron sand on some beaches, others are white with quartz or red with garnet. Most beaches are gold, sparkling in the sun. Don't bother bring a gold-pan though - it's mainly "fool's gold"!

Climate is mild, and a trifle damp. Not to worry, without rain, there wouldn't be rain-forest!

The eastern lowlands are forest, right to the water's edge. A canopy of Kamahi is pierced by majestic Rimu and Miro. Lianes and lush fern growth adorn the bush interior.

On the left is a a full bloom of Southern Rata which blooms prolifically only every few years.