Ruggedy RangeTM Wilderness Experience
Yellow-crowned parakeet
For unique experiences in small groups with personal attention from friendly professional guides, explore Ulva Island Nature Sanctuary, Stewart Island and Rakiura National Park with Ruggedy Range™ Wilderness Experience, a small boutique ecotourism operator. Owned and operated by Furhana (Bsc Hons Geography). We offer genuine natural history & bird watching trips, which come highly recommended.
Furhana has been personally guiding clients for 11 years and is passionate and knowledgeable about the local fauna and flora of the area. Her experience and knowledge of Ulva Island and Stewart Island extends almost 17 years. See our website for comments on our tours. “A magical place and superb guiding. A fitting climax to a marvellous six weeks in New Zealand. And a kiwi too. Thank you, Furhana, for a morning I’m unlikely ever to forget.” R Gilbert – UK.
Ulva Island – Birds & Forest - our most popular trip on predator-free Ulva Island, set in luxuriant primeval forest. Listen to birdsong and enjoy close encounters with endemic/native species including: saddleback, yellowhead, robin, rifleman, red and yellow-crowned parakeets; kaka (parrot), wood pigeon, weka... We stop to look at penguins and any other seabirds that may be present on our way to Ulva Island. Descriptive commentary is provided on the behaviour and habits of birds on this easy walk. Our trips are 4.5 or 8.5 hours, shorter by arrangement. We take you further and show you more!
Kiwi Journey – follow in the footsteps of kiwi to Mason Bay with stunning seascape and sand dunes. Search for this incredible bird, learn about its unique features, and listen to its distinctive call whilst marvelling at southern stars. Occasional daytime sightings will leave you in awe! Our sightings of kiwi have been from a couple of minutes to an hour and with upto 90% success rate of seeing kiwi on our tours. Robin, fernbird, and NZ’s rare wader the Southern New Zealand dotterel may be viewed along with other endemic/native species.
Pelagic Bird Watching Trips - We operate Aihe Eco Charters & Water Taxi. Aihe offers excellent viewing and comfortable seating for upto 12 passengers. Our small group pelagic tours for upto 8 persons, is around the north east shore of Stewart Island offering a great opportunity for close views of albatross, petrel, prion, terns, penguin, cormorants and other species. Tours are weather dependent and subject to minimum numbers of 4 persons.
Personalised Itineraries and Packages - we can personalise itineraries and package our tours with travel and accommodation from budget to 5 star in Stewart Island, Fiordland, Catlins and Dunedin.
Conservation Fund - we donate part of our revenue into a conservation fund for everyone that comes on our guided tours, charters, or water taxi service.
Come and experience our guided trips - we are passionate about our wildlife and will do our best to ensure your visit is memorable. See our website for further information: www.ruggedyrange.com
We are a small business and recommend prior bookings for all our tours. We strongly encourage you to book before coming to Stewart Island. Please note you are unable to book our tours through the I-Sites or other Visitor Centres in Stewart Island and New Zealand, nor the Ferry Terminals in Bluff and Stewart Islands. Please contact us directly for accurate and up to date information about our tours and services.
