A 10-minute boat ride from Stewart Island/Rakiura across Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Wera sits Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara. It is one of the few island sanctuaries in Aotearoa New Zealand that’s open to the public.
History
Ngāi Tahu has had a long presence in Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara and Paterson Inlet dating back before Europeans arrived. Settlements like The Neck/Te Wehe a Te Wera were visited by Ngāi Tahu Māori as part of their food-gathering trips and later housed the first Stewart Island post office.
In 1872 Charles Traill established a post office in Post Office Bay, which was in operation until 1923. Charles and his brother Walter, both Orkney Islanders, established an extensive garden which included radiata pine and other exotic tree species. Some large survivors of their garden are still growing alongside the
