Fitness and walking ability
Physical agility and the ability to walk unassisted is required for all tours.  A good level of fitness and agility is essential for our kiwi spotting spotting tour due to the challenging terrain encountered.

  • Prior booking is essential for all tours.
  • Email booking requests can be sent to info@ulva.co.nz and should include your name, contact details, number of people in your party, the tour name and date you'd like to book for, and the length of your visit to Stewart Island. 
  • ​Online booking is preferred - please use the "BOOK NOW" buttons on our web pages.
    • If the tour you require departs within the next 72 hours, online booking is not possible - please phone us rather than email.
  • Payment is required prior to tour date - you may book online or follow up an email reservation with your credit card details.  We suggest you phone us to advise credit card details.  Payment is processed by secure BNZ Payclip.  Card information is not retained and we follow up with a copy receipt.  If you choose to email credit card information to us, you do so at your own risk.
  • Tour confirmation - unless you receive direct confirmation from us please do not assume that your booking has been secured.
  • Re confirm your booking with us  by phone, text or WhatsApp message 027 688 1332  ON ARRIVAL TO STEWART ISLAND.  Sometimes  departure details change.
  • Group size stated for each tour is what we strive for and may not always be possible.
  • Minimum numbers are required for all tours.  Occasionally we run a tour for less people than our minimum number stated as well as taking more people than our preferred maximum.
  • Private tours offer flexibility if groups aren't your thing.
  • Large groups, tour groups, families, company outings - we offer competitive rates, please contact us for details.
  • Child rates apply up to and including age 12.  Teen rates for 13-17 year olds are available for some tours.  We may be able to offer family discounts, please contact us.
  • Parents should consider the duration of our tours and suitability for younger family members.  Other fare paying adults may be in the group and tours cannot be prematurely ended if children get tired.
  • Weather and sea conditions may affect tour operations. 
  • Wildlife is exactly that - wild!  It may or may not choose to be seen by us, we make no guarantees.
  • Meals and accommodation are not provided with any of our tours unless specified in your itinerary.
  • Rate seasons are 1st October of current year to 30th September the following year.
  • Discount codes may be used once only and for up to 6 people in one booking. Discounts may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
  • Ulva's Guided Walks reserve the right to amend or cancel any tour.

Frequently asked questions

What to wear/bring    
  • Flexible swivel neck for viewing birds and a desire for knowledge!​
  • Binoculars & camera.
  • Please bring/wear appropriate clothing - outdoor activities take place in a dynamic, natural environment that can be challenging as well as rewarding. We recommend sturdy walking shoes/boots, hat, gloves, layers of clothing, waterproof jacket & pants, water bottle, snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent and a day pack to carry everything!
  • If you are participating in a tour that involves significant boat travel (Birding Classic & Birding Bonanza) and are susceptible to motion sickness please bring suitable medication - there's no shame in being prepared.
How do I get to Golden Bay Wharf?
  • It's a 15-20 minute walk between Oban township/Halfmoon Bay area to Golden Bay Wharf.  A free paper map is available from the Stewart Island Flights depot, Stewart Island Ferry terminal, Stewart Island Four Square supermarket, and most accommodation providers or you can download a copy from the Stewart Island website.  If you require transport we recommend advance booking with the fabulous Aurora Cab Co!
Can I take food and drink to Ulva Island?
  • You are welcome to bring nibbles and a drink to sip as we walk but please do not feed the wildlife.  Take all rubbish away with you.
  • If you are participating in the Birding Classic or Birding Bonanza we recommend you bring lunch with you. This can be eaten at Ulva Island when the guided walk ends (we try to schedule a break in between tour components) or on the seabird watching boat.
  • Meals and accommodation are not provided with any of our tours unless specified in your itinerary.
Are there toilets at Ulva Island?
  • Yes there are two; one at Post Office Cove (near the wharf) and one at Sydney Cove.
  • There is also a toilet at Golden Bay Wharf (Stewart Island) which is where water taxis depart to go to Ulva Island.
​Are there shops at Ulva Island?
  • No, thank goodness! Ulva Island is a pristine paradise and you need to take everything you will need for the duration of your visit.
  • We recommend you shop at the Stewart Island Four Square supermarket.
Can I camp at Ulva Island? Can I stay longer at Ulva Island after my guided walk?
  • Subject to water taxi availability we can usually arrange this for you at no extra charge, occasionally there is a small additional charge.
Picture
Visit the Ulva Island Charitable Trust website for more information about Ulva Island and how YOU can help
Will I see a kiwi at Ulva Island?
  • There are approximately 80 Stewart Island Brown Kiwi (Tokoeka) at Ulva Island and whilst they are the only diurnal species of kiwi, sightings are random. We do not advertise our Ulva Island guided walk as a way to view kiwi. There are far rarer birds such as the South Island Saddleback and Stewart Island Weka that can be seen at Ulva Island. If seeing kiwi is your goal we recommend our evening kiwi spotting tour at Mamaku Point Conservation Reserve.
What time does the evening kiwi spotting tour start?
After sunset - time & location advised when you contact us to re-confirm your booking, but departure is likely to be in the region of:
  • October - 9.00pm
  • November to mid-December - 9.30pm
  • Mid-December to mid-February - 10.00pm
  • Mid-February to mid-March - 9.30pm
  • Mid to end March - 9.00pm
  • April & September - 8.15pm
  • May, June, July, August - 7.00pm
Can I choose another departure location / can you pick me up from my Stewart Island accommodation?
  • This is not possible. It's important we have everybody at our departure point promptly so that we don't keep the water taxi waiting.
  • Our private tours may offer a pick up / drop off but this is subject to vehicle availability.
  • Travel from mainland New Zealand is not included in any of our tour rates.​​

Health and safety policy statement

Ulva’s Guided Walks is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for the safety and health of our staff, subcontractors, our clients and other persons in our work area. Health and safety is everyone’s business, and everyone is expected to share in our commitment to avoid all accidents and incidents which may cause personal injury, property damage or loss of any kind. Every member of staff is expected to act safely at all times to ensure their own welfare, the welfare of clients and that of their fellow staff and others in the work area. We will ensure the safety of staff, clients and others in the workplace by:
  1. Provide and and continue to maintain a safe environment
  2. Guides have responsibility to stop any guiding if they believe the area is unsafe or cannot be continued in a safe manner.
  3. Ensuring everyone is kept safe
  4. Ensuring all are not exposed to unmanaged or uncontrolled hazards
  5. Challenge ourselves to continually improve our health, emergency and evacuation procedures.
To achieve this we will:
  1. Proactively identify and control all hazards in our work area.
  2. Where there are significant hazards we will take all practicable steps to eliminate, isolate and or minimise these hazards to prevent any injury or damage.
  3. Inform all Staff and clients of these hazards and the hazard controls.
  4. Ensure all Staff are properly trained and supervised.
  5. Ensure that Staff and Contractors comply with the Safety Plan
  6. Inform all Staff and clients of emergency and evacuation procedures.
  7. Record all incidents and accidents in our workplace, and take all practicable steps to prevent these events from happening.
  8. Carry out planned self-inspections to monitor any health and safety issues.
This Safety Plan is approved, maintained and implemented by Ulva Goodwillie, owner of Ulva's Guided Walks.
Covid-19
  • At New Zealand's alert level 2 businesses may operate if able to do so safely.  Public health measures that we have in place include:
    • keeping groups of customers at least 1 metre apart;
    • recording contact information of our customers in order to assist with contact tracing should the need arise;
    • displaying the Government COVID-tracer QR code for customers to scan;
    • encouraging the use of face coverings;
    • having hand sanitiser available in our vehicle and with guides;
    • refusing to allow those with cold or flu symptoms to join our tours; 
    • complying with the water taxi service in their restriction of passenger numbers in order to maintain distance between groups of customers.  The water taxi also disinfects high-touch areas such as hand rails in-between each journey.
  • At New Zealand's alert level 1 businesses may operate.  Public health measures that we have in place include:
    • displaying the Government COVID-tracer QR code for customers to scan;
    • encouraging the use of face coverings;
    • having hand sanitiser available in our vehicle and with guides;
    • refusing to allow those with cold or flu symptoms to join our tours.

Cancellation policy

For bookings made by client/authorised agent where prior payment has been made to Ulva's Guided Walks and email/telephone notice of cancellation is received by Ulva's Guided Walks from the client/authorised agent:
  • 30 days or more prior to tour date, a full refund* will be given;
  • 29 days or less prior to tour date, no refund will be given.
For bookings made by client/authorised agent where prior payment has not been made to Ulva's Guided Walks and email/telephone notice of cancellation is received by Ulva's Guided Walks from the client/authorised agent:
  • 30 days or more prior to tour date, client/authorised agent will not be invoiced by Ulva's Guided Walks;
  • 29 days or less prior to tour date, client/authorised agent will be invoiced for full amount by Ulva's Guided Walks.
If Ulva's Guided Walks cancel a tour, the client/authorised agent will be informed of the circumstances of cancellation and if prior payment has been made to Ulva's Guided Walks a full refund* will be given via the method of payment used when making the booking.
If Ulva's Guided Walks cancel a tour, the client/authorised agent will be informed of the circumstances of cancellation and if prior payment has not been made to Ulva's Guided Walks, the client/authorised agent will not be invoiced.
COVID-19: if New Zealand alert levels prevent clients from travelling to participate in our tour, Ulva's Guided Walks will provide a full refund or gift voucher for use at a later date.
Ulva's Guided Walks
027 688 1332
phone - text - WhatsApp (+64 27 688 1332)
info@ulva.co.nz
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Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary, PO Box 85, Stewart Island 9846, New Zealand
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