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Top Places: Rakiura National Park, Oban.
If the South Island of New Zealand isn't isolated enough for you then you
can always head further south to New Zealand's third largest island, Stewart
Island. The main gateway to Stewart Island is Bluff in Southland. Ferries
depart daily across the Foveaux Strait.
Oban
is the only town on the island and is also the arrival and departure point
for the South Island (the Mainland). The rest of the island remains a paradise
of forest and hills, where many rare and endangered birds can be found. There
are also beaches and excellent fishing spots.
The island has an area of 1,746 km². The north is dominated by the swampy valley of the Freshwater River. The river rises close to the northwestern coast and flows southeastwards into the large indentation of Paterson Inlet. The highest peak is Mt. Anglem, close to the northern coast, at a height of 979 metres (3,210 ft). It is one of the peaks in a rim of ridges that surround the Freshwater Valley. The southern half is more uniformly undulating, rising to a ridge that runs south from the valley of the Rakeahua River, which also flows into Paterson Inlet. The southernmost point in this ridge is Mt. Allen, at 750 metres (2,500 ft). In the southeast the land is somewhat lower, and is drained by the valleys of the Toitoi River, Lords River, and Heron River. South West Cape on this island is the southernmost point of the main islands of New Zealand. Mason Bay, on the west side, is notable as a long sandy beach on an island where beaches are typically far more rugged.
Most of Stewart Island
has been designated as a national park called Rakiura.
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