Port Pegasus/Pikihatiti – historic tin mining site maintenance

Project number: 19
Location: Port Pegasus, Stewart Island/Rakiura

Dates

2 volunteers for 10 days

March 2026 (exact dates to be confirmed in December)

Description

This activity is situated in a remote area of the Rakiura National Park on Stewart Island/Rakiura and involves maintaining many historical sites associated with tin mining in the area during the late 1800s.   

Tasks will include track clearance, moving slash from the DOC chainsaw operator, re-digging drains, pulling seedlings, shrubs and trees in a significant area of ground sluiced tailings, restoration work on the hydraulic sluicing guns and historic site monitoring.

What to expect

Fitness/skill level

Very high fitness level. This activity involves a minimum of 3-4 hours tramping each day (2 hours solid up hill with a day pack), up to 15 km total. The work being undertaken is physical and strenuous, especially when clearing vegetation. Volunteers must be comfortable doing physical activity for 8-10 hours per day in an exposed area of the Southern Tin Range, in all weather conditions (rain, cold, wind, sunshine). Volunteers must have a cureent first aid certificate. 

Accommodation

On board the Southern Winds DOC vessel with full facilities. Volunteers must be comfortable living in close quarters with 11 other people on the boat for 10 days, fresh water use is restricted. 

Pickup/drop-off location and times

Volunteers will meet outside the Stewart Island Experience Visitor Terminal in Bluff at 8.30 am, where they will be collected by the Southern Winds. Volunteers will be returned to Bluff after 2.30 pm on the final day.

Contribution towards food and transport

$350 per person.