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The one-hour ferry between Bluff and Rakiura/Stewart Island offers great pelagic birding with several albatross species such as Buller's Albatross.
While the crossing can be rough, calm days offer excellent pelagic seabirding from the ferry. The afterdeck provides shelter from the wind and a broad viewing angle.
At both ends of the ride, especially near Oban in summer, you'll have the chance to spot three penguin species - Fiordland Penguin, Yellow-eyed Penguin, and Little Penguin - along with various gulls, terns, shags, and Brown Skua. In the open ocean section, six albatross species are regularly observed, including Buller's Albatross, Salvin's Albatross, and Royal Albatross (Southern). Additionally, thirteen other regularly seen seabirds, such as Sooty Shearwater, Fluttering Shearwater, and Fairy Prion, are regularly seen, with occasional sightings of more.
The ferry between Bluff and Oban to Stewart Island typically runs twice a day.
If the weather is not on your side and you don't have strong sealegs, come prepared as the crossing can become quite rough.
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