Half Moon Bay, or Oban, is the only settlement on Stewart Island, the southernmost island of New Zealand. It’s accessible by plane from Invercargill, or ferry from Bluff.
Most of Stewart Island is now part of Rakiura National Park, symbolised by a massive sculpture of an anchor chain that runs into the sea at Half Moon Bay. The National Park is a haven for native birds, including the endangered kiwi.
On the coast of the Park you will find breeding colonies of Yellow-Eyed Penguins.
There are beautiful sheltered bays in Stewart Island that are perfect for fishing, boating, diving and sea kayaking. One such, Paterson Inlet, is also home to Ulva Island and its bird sanctuary.
Half Moon Bay also provides easy access to a herd of Virginian White-tail deer, and their easy accessibility makes the area popular with hunters.
The Rakiura Museum houses a collection of artefacts detailing Half Moon Bay’s history from the earliest Maori settlement.
