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OPENING HOURS JUNE OPENING HOURS: FRI-SUN 10am - 4pm
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Haere mai / welcome to

The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary – a very special part of New Zealand

If you’re looking for our Glowworm Tour information, click here.

The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is the largest fenced Sanctuary for endangered plants and creatures in the South Island.

Close to Nelson city but hidden away, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of New Zealand native bush, breathe deeply and engage.

We want to connect people (visitors, our staff and volunteers) with the natural world in a way that promotes environmental responsibility and contributes to the restoration of our local and national ecosystems.

We hope visitors will experience the mauri (life force), vital essence and spirituality of this natural environment.

We are enriching the future – come join us here at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary.

Get Involved; Brook Waimārama Sanctuary

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We welcome your help: hands-on or from a distance.

GET INVOLVED
Brook Waimārama Sanctuary; Children: Students; Education Inspiring The Next Generation; Learning; Rick Field

EDUCATION AT THE SANCTUARY

It’s never too late to learn about how we can care for and interact with nature.

BOOK A GROUP VISIT
Brook Waimārama Sanctuary; Visitor Centre; Walks And Facilities

SANCTUARY WALKS & FACILITIES

Be inspired by our 690-ha protected ecosystem just 6km from Nelson’s central city.

LEARN MORE
Brook Waimārama Sanctuary; Green Spider;

OUR NATIVE WILDLIFE AND PLANTS

Discover the extraordinary in our backyard.

Learn More

Find us on Instagram

@brooksanctuary

Share your photos with us #brooksanctuary

Check out this velvet worm captured at the Sanctuary! 
Peripatus, or velvet worms, are one of the more unusual animals found around the forest floor. They are known as one of the few ‘living fossils’, remaining remarkably unchanged from 500 million years ago. As a result, they have attracted much scientific interest for being the 'missing link' between worms and insects, however much remains unknown about these critters. 
The velvety skin of peripatus has permanently open pores, which means that they can easily dry out. Consequently, they are mostly found in shady, cool and damp areas such as deep within rotting logs and under leaves and debris during the day. They usually venture out at night to prey on other invertebrates, which they catch with jets of sticky fluid.

Image Credit : Chelsea Hayley
In case you missed it…. Here’s a quick overview of our Open Day last month. We look forward to hosting you for our next one in the Spring! Keep your eyes peeled 👀

Filmed by @hot.pixels.photography & edited by @fraser.heal 🐛
Fungi season is well and truly upon us... and what a wonderful time it is to explore the weird and wonderful workings of nature at the Sanctuary 🍄🍃

Check out this incredible image of 'Birds Nest' Fungi captured by one of our field staff recently!

This variety is known as Crucibulum leave, or 'Common Birds Nest Fungi'.
The fungi forms on decaying wood in clusters of tiny cups only 4–10mm across, which resemble birds nests - hence the name. The 'eggs', otherwise known as periodoles, contain the spores and are at first covered by a velvety, cinnamon-yellow membrane called an ‘epiphragm’. The membrane eventually ruptures, revealing the periodoles.

Did you know? - Raindrops help this fungi to spread its spores. As you can see in this image, the cups have filled with water thanks to all of the rain we've been having lately.

Image credit : Chelsea Hayley

STRATEGIC SUPPORTERS

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MAJOR SUPPORTERS

Sponsors; J&E Reuhl; logos
Sponsors; kumanu; logos
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Sponsors; Simplicity; logos
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