About this tour
When Jake from our team booked a one-way flight to Stewart Island, we found a straightforward 15-minute hop that beats the ferry slog across Foveaux Strait. You're not chartering a private jet — it's a scheduled service ferrying visitors across the water to Rakiura, where the national park entry and landing fees are bundled in. The flight itself is smooth enough, with headsets letting you hear the pilot's commentary about what's below. It's the practical choice if you're keen to maximise time on the island rather than spend hours on a boat.
Highlights
- Fifteen-minute flight cuts travel time versus ferry crossing
- Headsets mean you actually hear the pilot's local knowledge
- National park entry included — no separate gate fees
- Small aircraft feel — genuine sense of arrival
- Landing handled professionally without faffing about
- Suitable for mixed fitness levels and ages
- Beats queuing at a ferry terminal
What to expect
You'll check in at the small Southland airport, board a light aircraft with a handful of other passengers, and be airborne within minutes. The flight is stable and surprisingly quick — the pilot points out landmarks and gives you the rundown of what's below through those headsets. There's no flashy cabin service (bring your own coffee if you want), but the crew handle everything efficiently. You land at Rakiura airstrip, collect your bags, and you're officially on Stewart Island with the national park sorted already.
The real win is time: you're on the ground and ready to hike or explore within an hour of leaving Southland, whereas the ferry takes three to four hours. It's not a scenic spectacle — the strait is grey water and low cloud more often than not — but it's honest, functional travel that works.
What travellers say
- Cuts three hours off ferry travel — massive time gain
- Headsets let you actually hear the pilot's commentary
- National park entry bundled in, no extra fees
- Straightforward boarding and professional crew
- Surprisingly smooth flight across the strait
- Weather delays are common on Foveaux Strait
- Not private — shared flight with other passengers
- No food service; bring your own or plan ahead
- You'll need to sort onward transport from airstrip
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This works brilliantly if you want to maximise daylight hours on the island. The flight is smooth, headsets are useful, and having national park admission already sorted is one less thing to organise when you land. Suits families (infants sit on laps), solo travellers, and anyone who'd rather spend an hour flying than half a day on the water.
It's not private — expect a handful of other passengers. The airstrip is basic, so luggage handling is more hands-on than an airport. Weather can delay or cancel flights (the strait can be rough). You'll need to arrange onward transport from the airstrip — no shuttle included. Bring a packed lunch or arrange food on the island; nothing's provided on the flight.
Headsets included, national park entry and landing fees covered. Groups are small (typically under a dozen). Book ahead, especially in peak season. Infants travel free on a lap. Allow 30 mins for airport check-in.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.