Day #16 Stewart Island to Invercargill to Te Anau

We departed Oban on Stewart Island on the 10:30 AM flight. We did not go to the runway (actually nothing you might call an airport just a runway) until the check-in/baggage/shuttle driver person received a message indicating the plane was halfway to the island (about 10 minutes). We climbed aboard our Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander for our journey back to the South Island and reunite with our car in Invercargill. Another uneventful flight with our pilot, Patrick.

Patrick taking off with no one in the copilot's seat

Patrick landing on a grass runway

Our route to Te Anau took us past Monkey Island and on to Riverton. There were no monkeys on the island, ever. It got its name from a type of winch used to haul boats ashore. It was low tide and we were able to walk to the island for a look around.

Monkey Island

beach at Monkey Island

a parachute surfer at Monkey Island

We made our way to Riverton, a small town with a great museum of local history. It was really good, All about fur seal hunting, whaling, and lumbering with some shady activities thrown in for good measure. We cruised past Gemstone beach and on to our destination for 2 nights.

Gemstone Beach

We checked into our motel at Te Anau and walked into town for a bite to eat. It turned out to be Indian. Not bad!

Tomorrow, we cruise the Milford Sound.