Ulva Island - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Most of Ulva Island (about 260 ha) is an open island sanctuary. Here we can see native birds and plants which are rare, endangered - or entirely absent from mainland New Zealand.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

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below to explore this walk.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Starting from the Department of Conservation's Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre in Oban, we walk down to the waterfront and turn right. Ulva Island is accessed by ferry or water taxi. The network of tracks on Ulva Island can be easily walked in half a day. The regular Ferry sailings make it a simple choice of whether you wish to stay for a half day or a full day.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
We walk along the waterfront, then take the first right into Ayr Street.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Now we head up Golden Bay Road and over the hill.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
We pass Traill Park on our right. This is a popular place for night-time Kiwi bird spotting.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
We carry on straight ahead and then follow the road down to Golden Bay.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Now we take the left fork and walk down to the Golden Bay wharf.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
We sit in the shelter at the Golden Bay wharf while we wait for the Ulva Island Ferry. Here we are given our Ferry tickets - which are hand written on a leaf! This is a local tradition. Until the 1970s, people from around these parts were allowed to post letters written on the leaves of the Puheretaiko plant (Muttonbird Scrub).

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
The Ulva Island Ferry approaches Post Office Bay, Ulva Island.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
After a short walk from the wharf, we come to this intersection. To the right of this sign is an old gate and a path. This used to lead to the old Post Office. Now it leads to private land and holiday homes. From here we turn left and follow the path up to the Flagstaff Point Lookout.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
And straightaway we see a Kakariki (NZ Parakeet). These birds are rather common on Stewart Island / Rakiura - but this is the first one we'd seen close up.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
At this intersection, we turn left and climb to Flagstaff Point Lookout.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Flagstaff Point Lookout. Back in the days when Ulva Island was home to this region's only Post Office, a flag was raised where this lookout stands whenever a new load of mail arrived. People from all around Paterson Inlet would then jump in their boats and head on over for news from the outside world.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
View from Flagstaff Point Lookout.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Now we'll head back down and check out Sydney Cove.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Sydney Cove - 5 minutes.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Above we see a tangle of Supplejack - a vine which early settlers used to make crayfish pots and fish traps.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
As well as being home to endangered native species, Ulva Island features trees from other places, planted by the naturalist and botanist, Charles Traill. The mature beech tree behind the ferns above is an example of a tree which doesn't occur here naturally.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Here we turn left and head to Sydney Cove.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Sydney Cove was named after a sealing ship which visited here in the early 1800s.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Sydney Cove shelter. There is a toilet and water supply behind the shelter.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Sydney Cove.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Now we'll make our way to Boulder Beach and then to West End Beach.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Look at the plant life on this rotting log. Such diversity... You don't get that on the mainland. The reason we see such plant diversity here is because there are no rats and mice to eat the seeds.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
And here is where we saw our first ever South Island Saddleback (Tieke). A very special moment... By the end of our Ulva Island stay, we had become quite good at spotting Saddlebacks. You don't look for the Saddleback. You look for a Fantail (Piwakawaka) fluttering around halfway up a tree. A metre or so above the Fantail will sometimes be a Saddleback, picking at the tree bark. The Fantail is waiting to catch any treats that fall down.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Now we come to the main crossroads on Ulva Island. The round-leafed plant in the foreground is Punui, which is only found on the islands in these parts. Elsewhere it has been wiped out by possums, rats and deer. From here we follow the path to Boulder Beach.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
We saw more Saddlebacks (Tieke) on this stretch of track.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
The twisted pieces of frond on this tree fern are little pockets, made by the native roller caterpillar. The caterpillar lives in the pocket while it eats the tree fern.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
The small signs near the ground identify giant specimens of Miro, Rimu, Totara and Rata trees.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
This Hen and Chicken Fern reproduces by making tiny little "chicken" versions of itself - as you can see here, growing on the fern fronds. These babies drop off, take root and grow.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Boulder Beach with Stewart Island Weka in the foreground.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
The best way by far to spot endangered birds on Ulva Island is to sit quietly and wait and watch and listen. We don't see anywhere near as much while we are walking as when we are sitting quietly.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Now we follow the 5 minute track down to West End Beach.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Seat overlooking West End Beach.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
West End Beach.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Heading back up to the main track.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Back on the main track.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Sitting on this seat, we were approached by a Stewart Island Robin (Toutouwai).

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Twenty Stewart Island Robins were released on Ulva Island in 2000. By 2013 their numbers were estimated to have increased to around 500.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Back at the main crossroads. This time we'll head left and check out the track between here and Post Office Bay.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
A short track on our right leads from here across the island to Sydney Cove. It's a stretch of track we haven't seen yet - so we might as well check it out.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
This is a rat trap. Although there are supposedly no rats living on Ulva Island, more can arrive. They can swim from boats moored offshore and they can stow away in visitors' luggage. For this reason, visitors are asked to check their luggage for pests. On average, one rat a year manages to reach Ulva Island.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
That's the track we came down from Flagstaff Point Lookout on our way to Sydney Cove.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
One last look at Sydney Cove.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Heading back along the short track that crosses Ulva Island.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Back at the intersection with the rat trap. Here we turn left.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Now we'll follow the track back to Post Office Bay and the wharf.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Post Office Bay wharf.

ULVA ISLAND - Rakiura National Park
Post Office Bay wharf and the Ulva Island Ferry. What a truly great day that was...