Halfmoon Bay

Stewart Island (Rakiura), New Zealand

Home to Stewart Island Backpackers, conveniently based in the heart of the bay.

Places in Halfmoon Bay

Stewart Island Backpackers shared kitchen Shared kitchen facilities at reasonable prices for budget travelers.

Best time to visit: December to March (Australasian summer), for the mildest weather to explore Rakiura National Park and enjoy the Dark Sky Sanctuary at night.
Getting around: Halfmoon Bay and the town center of Oban serve as the main hub, with South Sea Hotel just a 2-minute walk from the ferry and airline terminal that connects the island across the Foveaux Strait.
Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Language: English and te reo Māori (both official).
Timezone: NZST (UTC+12, UTC+13 in summer)
Current trends: Stewart Island's 2019 Dark Sky Sanctuary accreditation continues to draw stargazers to this remote, sparsely populated island, while Rakiura National Park's coverage of 80% of the island keeps wildlife and landscape tourism at the core of the visitor experience; Church Hill Lodge & Restaurant's ever-changing, seasonal seafood-forward menu in coastal Oban reflects a growing culinary sophistication even in this far-flung corner of New Zealand.

Oban town center — Home to South Sea Hotel, just a 2-minute walk from the ferry and airline terminal.
Coastal Oban — Home to Church Hill Lodge & Restaurant, a three-room property with ever-changing seasonal menus.