Rakiura-Nationalpark

The Rakiura National Park (English Rakiura National Park ) is New Zealand's southernmost national park. It is located on the sparsely populated Stewart Island, which is upstream of New Zealand's South Island. Founded in 2002, Rakiura National Park is the youngest of all 14 parks in New Zealand, and also by its position outside of the two main islands of the country it has a unique feature. The altitude ranges from sea level to 981 m.

Through the National Park, the trail leads Rakiura Track.

The National Park is just about 30 km off the coast of New Zealand's " mainland " and stands out but by a very own nature. This is partly because the Foveaux Strait, which separates the island from the rest of the country, with their often stormy weather and cold, turbulent water means a strong isolation ( " Roaring Forties "). The island often experienced from the Southern Ocean encroaching bad weather fronts and is therefore only suitable for such climatic conditions adapted species suitable as a habitat.

A high conservation value has the Rakiura National Park not only because the island has been spared by their peripheral location of larger human intervention, but also by the wide variety of landscapes in a relatively small area. To be found on the west coast rocky cliffs, interrupted by sandy beaches, while on the eastern side of three, partly projecting into the deep island coves is strongly divided. Also, the northern and the southern part of the island are very different; they are separated by the Freshwater Valley. In the interior of the National Park there are extensive wetlands as well as forest areas adjacent to mountains, which rise to almost 1,000 meters in altitude. Rakiura is the habitat of many native bird species, including endemic and those that are extinct on the main islands of New Zealand or severely depleted, such as the Kakapo ( Strigops habroptilus ), a nocturnal, flightless parrot.

" Rakiura " means in the language of Māori 'Red Hot Sky ', which refers to the appearing herein aurora and the spectacular sunsets.

In Oban / Halfmoon Bay, the only town in the island, a visitor center with information about the park and its nature is established. There are 245 km of hiking trails as well as some huts for multi-day hiking trips.

• More information can be found in the article on Stewart Island.