Guided Sea Kayak Tours Stewart Island with Phil

Phil’s Guided Kayak Trips on Stewart Island – A Paddlers Paradise

Experience natural Stewart Island from a kayak.

Phil’s Sea Kayak Stewart Island offer half and full day trips encompassing a whole range of adventures from exploration for the beginners in the pristine clear bays of Paterson Inlet, to advanced Sea Kayaking expeditions. We share a strong attraction to the stunning natural beauty of Stewart Island, every day is different and special, and now we can share that passion with you. A beautiful, quiet way to explore the coastline and golden sandy beaches, sea birds and other animals and the impressive inter-tidal under water life. You can go with a group or ask for personal charters … awesome opportunities for nature and bird photography!

Phil’s been living and kayaking here for years, sharing a strong attraction to the stunning natural beauty of Stewart Island – every day is different and special, and now he can share that passion with you.

Go for a Paddle with Phil’s Sea Kayak Tours Stewart Island

Sea Kayaking at Stewart Island offers the whole range from exploration for the beginners in the pristine clear bays of Paterson Inlet, to advanced Sea Kayaking expeditions – ask us about options. Phil is an experienced and certified kayak guide offering half day, full day and sunset tours, a beautiful, quiet way to explore the coastline and golden sandy beaches, spot a Seahorse, Penguin or Mollymawk. We are lucky to have an awesome Marine Reserve right on our doorstep offering up crystal clear waters, starfish, seaweeds and kelp like an underwater forest.
You can go with a group or ask for personal charters … awesome opportunities for nature and bird photography!
Stewart Island/Rakiura ‘Glowing Skies’ frequently puts on glorious sunsets. To be out on our kayaks is just magical and often the little Blue Penguins are on their way home at this time too.

Stewart Island Sea Kayaking Tour Options:

Captivating Coastline

Price: $145 pp
Tour Duration: 4.5 Hrs
Tour Starts: 8:00 am & 12:30 pm

Once you’re comfortable with the easy foot-operated steering and paddling strokes we’re off along the coastline taking in the natural beauty all around us. Rimu and Rata trees feature in the native bush reaching right to the high-tide zone – a precious insight to how much of the New Zealand coastline used to be. We’ll drop in to bays and paddle around islands, all the time taking in the sights and sounds of the bountiful, unspoiled marine ecosystem. Fancy a hot drink, baking and a stroll along a remote beach? Done!

Wide – Angle Inlet Adventure

Price: $219 pp
Tour Duration: Full Day 8.5 Hrs
Tour Starts: 8:00 am

This is an amazing day of the sights and sounds of pristine coastal nature! Following our briefing and practice we’ll partially traverse Paterson Inlet then explore the remote, southern coastline of Ulva Island. We’ll pass through multiple islets that are home to many species of seabirds and the shallow waters here are packed with unique sealife. We’ll observe colonies of cormarants, black-backed gulls and may have albatross above us and landing close by. Further afield there’s stunning places for refreshments and stretching your legs on golden sand beaches before continuing our amazing circuit back to the boatshed.

A Taste of the Pristine Paradise

Price: $90 pp
Tour Duration: 2.5 Hrs
Tour Starts: Time varies

After our briefing we’re on the water to practice paddle strokes. We’ll be exploring along the beautiful bush-clad shoreline keeping a eye out (and ear open) for penguins and a host of seabirds going about their daily activities. We might visit the waters around the Faith, Hope and Charity Islands, head in to Deep Bay and maybe reach Ringaringa Passage – where the Inlet meets the open ocean. All along the way we’ll be discovering the amazing and prolific sea life living in the crystal-clear water.

Glowing Skies Gem

Price: $90 pp
Tour Duration: 2.5 Hrs Evening/Sunset Tour
Tour Starts: Time varies

An evening kayaking on Paterson Inlet is unforgettable. We are often the only people on the water. Frequently the sea surface is very calm and the reflections and colours are hightened from the sun setting right across the Inlet. There’s time to explore the wide array of intertidal sealife like urchins, shellfish, starfish and sea cucumbers as we typically make our way to Ringaringa Passage. Maybe time for a quick foray to kelp-surrounded rocks off the beach before paddling up the Inlet with (hopefully!) the sun setting right in front of us.

Stewart Island Guided Sea Kayak Tours

For all tours Phil can pick you up from and return you to your accommodation. Alternatively, meet at the boatshed at Watercress Bay, a very pleasant 25 minute walk from the Oban waterfront. At the boatshed we’ll fit your personal kayaking gear, have a tour and safety briefing and learn and practice some kayaking skills.
Your tour route will reflect the weather and water conditions at the time, to ensure your safety and maximum enjoyment. Don’t worry if you’re travelling by yourself or as a couple – most times their will be others doing the the same to make up the minimum of four guests.

Explore the pristine clear waters with an amazing marine life, bays and sandy beaches. We often see penguins, marine mammals and mollymawk / albatross.
Quiet and close – just you and nature. Small groups ensure an individual experience.
Based close to the village with direct access to Paterson Inlet marine reserve and coastlines.
Double and single sea kayaks with personal and safety gear.
Half or full day tours, twilight paddles (sunset!), sea kayak expeditions.
New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association certified and registered guide, happily paddling for 30 years!
Personal guiding – tours tailored for all levels of experience