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DAY 1:
Arrive in Invercargill
Stay
at Tuatara Backpackers (which is also the YHA)
right in the centre of Invercargill. They will
issue with your itinerary with departure times,
voucher and hiking kit. Check your packing list
and make sure you have a good supply of food for
the next 2 days.
DAY 2:
Invercargill, Mason Bay
In
the morning catch a shuttle to Invercargill Airport
- a 10 minute journey. Please note that the flight
time is dictated by the low tide and you will be
advised in your itinerary. Take a twenty minute
flight by small plane to Mason Bay passing Codfish
Island, an important Kakapo sanctuary.
Landing on Mason Bay
beach it is a short walk of about 20 minutes through
the sand dunes to the Mason Bay Hut - your accommodation
for the night. This is a public DOC hut with no
power, outside toilet and no cooking facilities.
This evening see if
you can spot one of the local residents, a kiwi.
DAY
3: Mason Bay, Freshwater, Golden Bay, Halfmoon
Bay
Walk 4 hours / 14km
An
easy ( flat ) walk across the Island to Freshwater.
Massive sand dunes, head high tussock and Manuka
trees house many native birds, including kiwi's
and robins.
At Freshwater Landing
meet the water taxi for a 45 minute ride down Freshwater
River and across Paterson Inlet to Golden Bay.
A short walk takes you to Halfmoon Bay. Please
note your water taxi departure is at high tide
and it is critical you arrive at least half an
hour in advance of the departure time. If you miss
the water taxi you will be spending another 24
hours at the Freshwater Landing Hut! Tonight you
stay in Stewart Island Backpackers with power and
a shower!
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