Ninety Mile Beach — Mason Bay Track
Stewart Island's wild west coast — kiwi country.
Mason Bay on Stewart Island / Rakiura is about as far off the beaten track as New Zealand gets. The Mason Bay Track runs inland from the eastern bays across the island’s midsection to the wild, windswept sand flats of Mason Bay on the west coast — a beach so remote that the only human infrastructure is a DOC hut and the occasional kiwi footprint in the sand. Getting there requires crossing from Bluff or Oban by ferry or floatplane, and the track itself winds through lowland podocarp forest and across the Freshwater River before the dunes open up. This is prime kiwi habitat and night walks on the beach are genuinely one of the best wildlife experiences in the country.
This route operates more as a backcountry walking and light vehicle track than a typical 4WD trail — sand tyres and a well-prepared lightweight 4WD are required on the beach sections. DOC manages the land strictly and all visitors must comply with Rakiura National Park regulations. Cell service is completely absent. Hut passes are required for overnight stays at Mason Bay Hut. The best window is October through April when weather is most cooperative, though Stewart Island weather is famously unpredictable. Come prepared for mud, wind, rain, and one of the most authentic wild places left on the planet.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 11 mi / 17.7 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 820 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | Lightweight 4WD with sand tyres |
| Nearest town | Oban, Stewart Island |
| Land manager | Department of Conservation — Rakiura National Park |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | DOC — Mason Bay, Stewart Island DOC — Rakiura National Park |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum rig to drive Mason Bay Track?
A lightweight 4WD with proper sand tyres — this is non-negotiable. Soft sand dominates the route and anything underpowered or running unsuitable tyres will bog. Tyre deflation to around 15-18 PSI is standard practice here.
When is the track open and what does winter look like out there?
October through April is your window. Winter brings heavy rainfall, saturated sand, and track conditions that make an already remote route genuinely dangerous — DOC advises against it outside the warmer months.
Do you need a permit to drive Mason Bay Track?
Yes — Rakiura National Park requires a permit for vehicle access to Mason Bay. Contact DOC directly before you go; requirements and access rules can change seasonally and they manage numbers on this track.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The soft sand stretches closest to the beach are where rigs get into trouble — long flat sections with no firm base and nowhere to anchor a recovery if you're solo. Water crossings add another variable; depth and firmness change with tide and rainfall, so check conditions on the day.
There's no road to Stewart Island — how do I actually get my vehicle there?
You can't drive to Stewart Island. Getting a vehicle to Mason Bay requires chartering a barge or landing craft from the South Island — it's expensive, logistically complex, and needs advance planning. Most people walking this route do it on foot; driving it is a serious expedition, not a weekend run.
Trail track
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