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Stewart
Island Scenery
The Naming of Stewart
Island
The Original Maori name, Te
Punga o Te Waka a Maui, places Stewart Island firmly at the heart of Maori
mythology. Translated as "The Anchorstone of Maui's Canoe", the island's
land mass held the canoe secure whilst Maui and his crew caught and raised
the great fish, which we know today as the North Island of New Zealand.
Rakiura is however, the more
commonly known and used Maori name.
In 1809 the Pegasus, sailing
from Port Jackson, Australia, on a sealing expedition had aboard it as
first officer William Stewart. Whilst the boat was in the large south eastern
harbour, which now bears it's name, Stewart began charting the southern
coasts and his work is acknowledged to this day in the island's present
name.
A lone boat shed sit among
the Blue Gums at Lonnekers Beach. Although
the scene here is peaceful and tranquil, the southern storms can change
this rapidly to a scene of wild fury.
Stewart Island remains unspoilt
by modern man and although there are cars on the island, these are mainly
the rugged 4 wheel drive variety which are better able to cope with the
islands terrain. Visitors are warmly welcomed by the residents and there
are many bush walks, great fishing spots and hunting area's to keep the
holiday makers busy. You won't find many luxuries of mainland New Zealand
here, and that is the beauty of Stewart Island!
Dawn at Halfmoon Bay, Stewart
Island.
A peaceful crescent of sand,
the bay witnessed the comings and goings of Maori, Whaler, sealer, miner
and timber miller before settling gently back into seclusion. It's dreamy
calmness is disturbed only by the ferry from Bluff, at the bottom of the
South Island, which arrives tree times every week, and the tiny plane from
Invercargill.
View of Paterson Inlet
from
Observation Rock.
The eastern side of the Island
coastline hides a host of seductive coves, well sheltered from the prevailing
westerly winds and warmed by the sea currents from the Australian coast.
Launch trips probe it's distant corners which may include the relics of
Norwegian whaling operations.
Click
here for more Stewart Island infomation.
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