9.16pm - Friday 27th February 2026 3,533

In this update we continue our eight days in New Zealand and we fly in a very small plane to Stuart Island off the south coast of Southland with a population of only 300. We then visit Ulver Island by boat which is a wildlife sanctuary and see how the rat population has been decreased by management and the wildlife has flourished. We encounter a sea line asleep on the beach and many unique and exotic birds not seen anywhere else. We also go on a catamaran and tour around the perimeter of Stuart Island learning all about the history from when Captain Cook first discovered it in 1770.

We are taken to see how blue lipped muscle and Salmon are farmed and the catamaran takes us right around the edge with explanations of such things as the divers having to keep the Seels away and stop them getting in the nets!

Stuart Island itself is a stunning small place of beauty and we spend a night there in the local pub talking to the locals and continue to experience the fantastic New Zealand lifestyle.