Bluff - Gateway to Stewart Island

To get to Stewart Island, you have to use the ferry connection between Bluff and Oban.

Bluff is thus the southernmost city on the South Island. The southernmost settlement. Bluff is mainly known for fish. The fresh fish from Bluff is promoted throughout New Zealand (although it is probably not very fresh anymore when it reaches the stores in Auckland).
Although my ferry didn't leave until late afternoon, I drove down in the morning to take a look around.
There were a few cute hiking trails around the town, one leading to the 270m high Bluff Hill, from which you have a fantastic view of Stewart Island.
The path also passes by the famous Stirling Point. I only realized that the spot is famous when a huge group of Asians took photos of themselves with the sign, which is always an indication. Apparently, Stirling Point is the southernmost point in New Zealand that can be reached by road. Well, I also did that.
There wasn't much else to see in Bluff, it is and remains a small town.

So I was quite happy when I finally crossed over to Oban by ferry. Oban is the only town (=settlement) on Stewart Island. But it has a supermarket and a library with free WiFi!
Because it was already quite late, I took care of my tent first. I will be camping on Stewart Island a total of two times. If you have it, you can.
Stewart Island is the third largest island in New Zealand and over 80% of it is a nature reserve. A Great Walk, the Rakiura Track, leads through a small part. This makes the island closest to the 'primeval state of New Zealand': forests, birds, coastline.
In addition, Stewart Island is pretty much the only region where you have a realistic chance of seeing a kiwi in the wild. So there was no question that I had to go there.
But I won't reveal too much yet, because there is so much to report about Stewart Island, which I will do in separate blog entries.
Just this much: I immediately fell in love with the island :)