Golden Bay | Thule Bay | Vaila Voe Bay, Stewart Island

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If you’re looking for an easy and scenic short walk along one of the few roads on Stewart Island then head over the hill from downtown Oban to Golden Bay, Thule Bay and Vaila Voe Bay. There are a few things to see along the way, so keep reading if you’re planning a trip to Rakiura!

Walking to Golden Bay

From Oban you head up Ayre Street (which quickly becomes Golden Bay Road) and over the hill. It’s a decent little hill but shouldn’t pose too many problems. There’s a quick detour to Observation Rock, our favourite viewpoint on the island. From there you’ll see Golden Bay spread out before you. There’s a lot going on — there are several islands visible (including Ulva Island) as well as some bush-clad bays and coves.

Observation Rock lookout, Stewart Island, New Zealand

You can also walk up Dundee Street or Excelsior Road to get to Observation Rock. You could see Observation Rock on the way back instead (and then maybe do the Golden Bay track to Ringaringa Beach), but more on that at the end of this post.

Golden Bay

Once you’re over the hill it’s a short walk down to Golden Bay. It’s a small bay with some old boat houses. Golden Bay sees heaps of tourists (for Stewart Island at least) as it’s where the boats to Ulva Island depart and arrive.

A trip to Ulva Island is one of the most popular tourist activities on Stewart Island and it deserves the hype — lots of native birds and a small, pristine island to explore!

Thule Bay

Thule Bay is just around the corner from Golden Bay. You’ll notice the house on the hill overlooking the bay — such a great spot! You could easily turn around here but you may as well walk to the end of the road and check out Vaila Voe Bay.

Vaila Voe Bay

It’s a quick walk between Thule Bay and Vaila Voe Bay, which is the end of the road in this corner of Stewart Island. It’s a picturesque bay with lots of yachts. There’s also a track there (Ryan’s Creek Track) if you’re keen for a longer walk.

Golden Bay Track

Another option for a longer walk is to walk back to Oban via the Golden Bay Track. This eventually takes you to Ringaringa Beach / Wohlers Monument which is an underrated part of the island. You could also go back via the Fuchsia Walk (at the sports field at the top of the hill between town and Golden Bay.

The Details

It should take 15 – 20 minutes to walk from the centre of Oban to Golden Bay. Boats to Ulva Island leave from Golden Bay Wharf several times a day — we did it first thing in the morning and had a great time exploring the island.

Are you planning a trip to Stewart Island? Check out our post about the best things to see and do!

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Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.
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