Rakiura Track

Day One:                                                                                                                                  (Oban to Port William Hut)

The beach at Oban, Stewart Island (in Māori, the island is called "Rakiura").
The beach at Oban, Stewart Island (in Māori, the island is called “Rakiura”).
Lee Bay, at the northern end of the Rakiura Track.
Lee Bay, at the northern end of the Rakiura Track.
Te Puka - the anchorstone; a sculpture based on a Māori creation story where Stewart Island acts as an anchor for the South Island (there is a similar sculpture in Bluff at the end of the South Island).
Te Puka – the anchorstone; a sculpture based on a Māori creation story where Stewart Island acts as an anchor for the South Island (there is a similar sculpture in Bluff at the end of the South Island).
The northern coast of Stewart Island.
The northern coast of Stewart Island.
Set of steps on the trail.
Set of steps on the trail.
A piece of the trail on the Rakiura Track.
A piece of the trail on the Rakiura Track.
Ferns alongside the trail.
Ferns alongside the trail.
Overlooking a beach on the northern coast of the island.
Overlooking a beach on the northern coast of the island.
A small island and Port William Bay in the distance.
A small island and Port William Bay in the distance.
More of the track.
More of the track.
A creek streaming out to Māori Beach.
A creek streaming out to Māori Beach.
Māori Beach.
Māori Beach.
The trail continuing through the island's rainforest.
The trail continuing through the island’s rainforest.

 

Day Two:                                                                                                                                     (Port William Hut to North Arm Hut)

Morning view of the pier at Port William Hut.
Morning view of the pier at Port William Hut.
A kiwi (the national bird of New Zealand) on the trail in the early morning.
A kiwi (the national bird of New Zealand) on the trail in the early morning.
An abandoned log hauler (also known as a "steam winch") along the trail; these stationary machines would pull logs attached to ropes or cables for timber milling.
An abandoned log hauler (also known as a “steam winch”) along the trail; these stationary machines would pull logs attached to ropes or cables for timber milling.
A footbridge on the trail.
A footbridge on the trail.
A creek rushing under the Rakiura Track.
A creek rushing under the Rakiura Track.
The dense, moss-covered verdure of the rainforest.
The dense, moss-covered verdure of the rainforest.
Trees towering over the trail.
Trees towering over the trail.
More lush green - and wet - vegetation.
More lush green – and wet – vegetation.
The trail passing by a small stream.
The trail passing by a small stream.
A small stream passing underneath the fronds of rough tree ferns.
A small stream passing underneath the fronds of rough tree ferns.
Descending steps and a bridge on the trail.
Descending steps and a bridge on the trail.
Hiking through rough tree ferns.
Hiking through rough tree ferns.
A view of North Arm and the center (roughly) of Stewart Island.
A view of North Arm and the center (roughly) of Stewart Island.
North Arm, seen from North Arm Hut.
North Arm, seen from North Arm Hut.

 

Day Three:                                                                                                                                 (North Arm Hut to Oban)

A small bridge with Stewart Island's inlet in the background.
A small bridge with Stewart Island’s inlet in the background.
Reflection of the morning sky in an all but still creek.
Reflection of the morning sky in an all but still creek.
looking out at Kidney Fern Arm.
looking out at Kidney Fern Arm.
More rough tree ferns along the trail.
More rough tree ferns along the trail.
The sun peering through tree branches hanging over a creek (north of Kaipipi Bay).
The sun peering through tree branches hanging over a creek (north of Kaipipi Bay).
Mill Creek along the Fern Gully Track (a short track at the southern end of the Rakiura Track).
Mill Creek along the Fern Gully Track (a short track at the southern end of the Rakiura Track).
Stream with rough tree ferns overhead.
Stream with rough tree ferns overhead.
The Fern Gully Track cutting through a mound of earth.
The Fern Gully Track cutting through a mound of earth.

An open journal or an exercise in narcissism.