South Sea Hotel

The First Aircraft to Land on Stewart Island
Probably taken on February 27th 1931, the photograph shows Geoff Todd on the left and Oscar Garden alongside the De Havilland Moth "Kia Ora", which is believed to be the first aircraft to have landed on Stewart Island, the flight being the result of a $5 bet between Todd and Garden.
The landing was at Horseshoe Bay which was not that easy, for as the name would suggest, they did not have a straight run. It is also said that a strong Nor'wester was blowing. They managed to land safely, but during take off, a wheel caught on a lump of kelp that made the aircraft turn and run into the sea with the nose of the plane then dipping down. A tow back onto the beach and a quick oil change and they were back on their way once again.