Reconnect With Nature
Haere Mai | Welcome
Just minutes from Nelson, the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is the largest fenced wildlife sanctuary for endangered plants and animals in the South Island. Abundant with native species that both delight and surprise, visitors are able to immerse themselves in the beauty of New Zealand native bush, breathe deeply, and truly appreciate our sense of place and mauri (life force).
Home to iconic species like the kiwi, tuatara, and kākāriki, the Sanctuary offers self-guided exploration across 15km of walking tracks, as well as guided day and night tours. Don’t miss one of the South Island’s top attractions and your chance to hear (or maybe see) a kiwi in its natural habitat.
Lots to see and do
Nestled in Nelson’s Brook Valley, the Sanctuary spans 690 hectares of protected native bush, surrounded by 14.3 kilometres of pest-proof fencing. This predator-free environment enables the safe return of some of Aotearoa’s most endangered species.
The Sanctuary is the largest of its kind in the South Island and the second largest in the country; it is the only sanctuary to feature primarily mature New Zealand beech forest.
- 15km of walking tracks
- 45-minute easy loop walk with waterfalls, sculpture trail, picnic spots and more
- Guided day and night tours
- Home to kiwi, tuatara, the largest population of kākāriki karaka & many other endangered species
- Just 5km from Nelson City Centre
Find out more about our walks, facilities and what you can do at the Sanctuary here.
What’s happening at the Sanctuary?
Translocations, new chicks, competitions, children’s activities, corporate events – there’s always something new happening at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary!
What’s here?
Meet some of our amazing residents and our incredible flora
Choose your trail
Which trail will you take today? Choose from short, medium and long day walks. Explore some of the best walks in Nelson and immerse yourself in the Sanctuary for a day.
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Check out these winter greenhood orchids. They`re one of our many orchid species that have become exceptionally abundant since their release from pest pressure. Try spotting them along the track.
These odd, tongued hooded flowers are highly specialised for a rather mean form of pollination. The toungue-like labellum, a highly modified petal, is hair trigger sensitive to approaching fungus flies. The male fly, attracted by the false pheromone of a female fly emitted by the orchid, is catapulted inside the flower where it becomes covered in pollen.
Have you ever noticed these plants?
Jun 30
🌙✨ Explore the Sanctuary After Dark and Grab a 20% discount! ✨🌙
Experience the magic of the Sanctuary at night with our guided night tours. Discover luminous glow worms, immerse yourself in the sounds of the nocturnal forest, and keep your ears open for the distinctive call of a kiwi. Along the way, learn about the conservation efforts helping to protect and restore our native wildlife and habitats.
🎟️ Enjoy 20% off "A Night in the Forest" guided night tour bookings from the 1st - 20th July 2026!
📅 Valid for new bookings only
🌿 Every booking helps support the Sanctuary and its conservation efforts
Use promo code 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘𝟐𝟔 when booking.
🌐https://www.brooksanctuary.org.nz/visit/guided-tours-experiences
Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today and join us for an unforgettable evening in nature.
@nelsontasmannz
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #NightTour #Conservation #NelsonNZ #WildlifeExperience #JuneSpecial #NatureAtNight
Jun 30
🌿 Become a Kaitiaki of Brook Waimārama Sanctuary 🌿
Is your business passionate about conservation, community, and protecting Aotearoa`s unique wildlife?
By becoming a Kaitiaki Member, you`ll help support the vital work that keeps Brook Waimārama Sanctuary thriving, while also raising your business profile through a meaningful local partnership.
Your membership supports:
✨ Pest control and habitat restoration
✨ Protection of native species
✨ Environmental education programmes
✨ Community engagement initiatives
✨ The long-term future of the Sanctuary
As a Kaitiaki, your business will receive:
🤝 Opportunities for collaboration and social media promotion
🌐 Recognition on our website, including a link to your business
📧 Exposure through our newsletter reaching more than 5,000 subscribers
🏷️ Display the Sanctuary logo on your website or marketing materials.
✨5 individual or 2 family memberships and 10 general admission passes to share
✨20% off tours for your team or clients, up to 10 people
Every Kaitiaki plays a part in creating a safe haven for native wildlife and helping nature flourish for future generations.
Ready to make a difference? Join our growing community of Kaitiaki today.
Know a business that would be a great fit? Tag them below or put them in touch with us.
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #Kaitiaki #Conservation #NelsonTasman #CommunityPartnership #ProtectNature #SupportLocal
Jun 28
Come to the Sanctuary and spot some of these amazingly colourful fungi! 🍄
Waxcaps or Gliophorus are a very colourful genus, and often showcase a gelatinous, thick cap. There are twelve species to be found in Aotearoa, a lot of them endemic which means they are only found here.
Keep an eye out on your next visit; you might just discover one of these fascinating forest gems hiding among the leaf litter!
📷Photo credits: Chelsea (green Gliophorus), Henry (pink waxcap) and Steffi (Yellow and Orange fungi).
#Fungi #Waxcaps #Gliophorus #Aotearoa #NativeBiodiversity #NatureDiscovery #SanctuaryLife
Jun 25
🌱Explore the Sanctuary as much as you like!
There has never been a better time to sign-up as a Sanctuary member!
Membership gives you unlimited access to the Sanctuary while directly supporting the protection of native wildlife. Your contribution helps keep this unique 690ha forest safe and thriving.
Our memberships are annual, either as an individual or a family or we offer an individual lifetime subscription. Every membership helps protect native wildlife, restore precious habitat, maintain biosecurity systems, and support the return of rare species to the Nelson region.
✨ Unlimited Sanctuary access - during opening hours
✨ Priority access to events and experiences
✨ Monthly Sanctuary updates and stories
✨ Direct support for conservation
Belong to something wild - Become a member today.
https://www.brooksanctuary.org.nz/support-us/membership
#BrookWaimaramaSanctuary #BelongToSomethingWild #ConservationNZ #NelsonNZ #ProtectNature #PredatorFreeNZ
Jun 24
Immerse yourself in nature. Plan your visit to the South Island’s largest ecosanctuary. Explore our facilities, walking trails and meet our residents.
Entry fees are invested back into the Sanctuary which plays a crucial role in supporting all of our conservation activities and initiatives. Your admission fees go directly to our ongoing efforts to restore and develop this unique environment and ecosystem.
Jun 23
