Black Cat Cruises – Quail Island Adventures
April - September Weekends Only
Where: Departs Lyttelton 10.15am
Where: Departs Quail Island 3.30pm
Cost: Over 16's - $30 return
Spend a fascinating half-day exploring Quail Island by taking our Quail Island ferry. Named after the now extinct native Quail (koreke) by Captain William Mein Smith, the island was originally used as a quarantine station and as a small leprosy colony by the early European settlers.
At the same time as the lepers were confined to their one small bay, Antarctic explorers, Scott and Shackleton took advantage of the island to train their sled dogs and ponies before setting off on their ill-fated voyages. The last polar explorer to quarantine dogs on the island was American Commander Byrd, whose huskies were interned on the island between 1928 and 1930.
From 1934 till 1975 Quail Island was leased out for farming, and then converted to a recreational reserve. Today the focus is on restoring native vegetation and the island is home to many native birds including the fantail, kingfisher, silvereye and many sea birds including the rare white flippered little blue penguins.
Don’t forget to take your lunch with you!
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