Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third-largest island of New Zealand. It lies 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of the South Island, across Foveaux Strait. Its permanent population is slightly over 330 people, most of whom live in the settlement of Oban.

Stewart Island/Rakiura is the southernmost and smallest (about 75km long and up to 45km wide).  It is also the least modified- the least logged, least farmed, least burnt, and least built upon. 

Together with its 170 satellite islands and inlets, it retains a largely intact set of natural habitats ranging from dense coastal rainforest to tundra-like alpine vegetation.

Rakiura is the more commonly known and used Māori name. It is usually translated as Glowing Skies, possibly a reference to the sunsets for which it is famous or for the Aurora Australis, the southern lights that are a phenomenon of southern latitudes.

Over 80 per cent of the island is set aside as the Rakiura National Park, New Zealand's newest national park.

Other landscape features include the unique southern granite domes, Mason Bay's extensive dunelands, the expansive Freshwater wetlands, Mt Anglem's twin lakes, and numerous small forest-lined rivers stained brown by tannin.

Human settlement is confined to a small area on the northeast coast centred on Halfmoon Bay and the township of Oban.  Native forest embraces the settlement and its 24km or roads, creating an attractive natural setting.  

There are passenger and freight links with South Island (1 hour by catamaran from Oban to Bluff, 20 min to Invercargill Airport by light aircraft).  Economic activity on the island is dominated by three sectors – fishing/fish processing, tourism and marine farming.

There are regular daily schedule air services from Invercargill airport to Oban.