Does anyone live on stewart island

It's where Josephine Shepard spent much of her childhood, and has lived for the past nine years working full time in tourism. For here, you would have to wait at least 24 hours to get something else over from the mainland. View of harbour from Stewart Island's Oban. It was an option more employers were choosing - either buying or building houses - so their staff had somewhere reliable to live and they had a sustainable workforce, she said.

It seems to be a more popular choice for homeowners to do that," Ms Shepard said. She knows several people who are looking to buy or rent a house - all of them have been on the island for at least two to three years. I've made this place my home and to think I might possibly have to leave it because I don't have a home, it's a really big step," Ms Shepard said. Stewart Island community board member Jon Spraggon said other families had already left because they couldn't find somewhere to live.

There are some sections, but again sections are quite expensive and to build a home here is definitely expected. Freighting costs drove up the cost of building houses to the extent that Mr Spraggon estimated a kit home could cost double if it was built on Rakiura.

Real Journeys general manager Paul Norris said the company owned two staff accommodation and rented four houses, which currently housed 15 staff members.

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Although the island has a total area of square kilometres similar in size to Singapore , its inhabitants are concentrated around the township of Oban.

During the s sealing, whaling, saw-milling, fishing and tin mining were the main attractions of the island. Relics of this era can be viewed at the Rakiura Museum in Oban. In the early s tourism was well under way, with discerning visitors finding the island a peaceful natural haven. One hundred years on its still the case. Stewart Island draws conservationists, eco-tourists and anybody wanting to experience one of the more obscure and most special outposts of the world.

Oban, the one outpost of civilisation on this untamed island, is a town like no other. With a population of around , Oban is bursting with character. The locals are notoriously friendly and are more than willing to share their pride in their heritage.

Oban caters to all budgets, from shoestring backpacker fare to first-rate restaurant Church Hill. Experience the local culture down at the pub or unwind in the tranquillity of the native forest setting. Oban is great either as a final destination or as a stepping stone to more adventurous pursuits. From Oban you can access a number of fishing charters, diving expeditions, exciting sea-kayaking around Paterson Inlet and many beautiful bush walks.

The Oban experience is what you make it, but its always guaranteed to be unforgettable.