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.
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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
Jun 2
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
May 24
A snap of some of the amazing moss you can find inside the Sanctuary! Dawsonia superba is the tallest moss in new Zealand and one of the tallest species in the world. It is native to New Zealand but not endemic as it is also found in Australia.
Photo credit : Chelsea Haley
#brooksanctuary #mosses #nznativeecology #endemic #ecosystemrestoration #brooksanctuary #moss #ecology
May 3
This week saw the 7th kākāriki karaka translocation into the Sanctuary. The population has been thriving, with new birds helping to strengthen the genetic foundations of the growing flock.
The birds will be spending two nights in the aviaries to acclimatise before they are released into the Sanctuary 🦜
Mar 16
Some photos from our very first Beech Glade Session - Taonga Puoro with Bob Bickerton. What a special outdoor concert at our beautiful hidden venue in the Bush 🌳
A reminder that we are hosting out next session this Thursday 16 Feb, featuring the Adam Troubadour Quartet.
Tickets and details via the events page on our website (link in bio) 🐛
Feb 12
