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.
Visitor Reviews
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@brooksanctuary
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🌿 Thank You to Our Amazing Supporters! 💚
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary simply wouldn’t be what it is today without the incredible support of our community, partners, funders, volunteers, members and everyone who believes in protecting and restoring this special place.
Every contribution—big or small—helps us continue our important work to protect threatened species, restore native habitats, maintain our tracks and facilities, and provide a place where people can connect with nature. 🐦🌳
We would also like to acknowledge our recent support through The Spectacle Running Event, made possible through GrassRoots. 🏃♀️🏃♂️
A huge thank you to everyone who has already signed up to run for the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. Your support will help make a real difference, and we can`t wait to cheer you on!
There is still time to get involved, so why not pull on your running shoes and run for nature? Or donate.
Thank you for standing with us and helping create a thriving future for the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. Together, we are making a difference. 🌿🐦
https://spectacle26.grassrootz.com/the-brook-waimara#nelsontasman
#BrookWaimaramaSanctuary #TheSpectacle #GrassRoots #RunForNature #Conservation #SupportLocal #ProtectNature #NelsonTasman
Aug 28
Just like your dirty car bonnet, our fence `hood` needs a scrub once in a while. While the lichen that grows on the mesh helps the fence blend in while looking beautiful, the lichen on the hood can be problematic. The hood keeps the sanctuary pest-free, but any grip could offer some purchase for pests.
At when hood cleaning we get these brilliant views!(sarcasm). The misty weather actually became very helpful in loosening up the lichen crust for removal. And we were lucky to see the native cranberry moth (Poecilasthena pulchraria) and an early spring bloom of puawānanga (Clematis paniculata).
#brookwaimāramasanctuary
Aug 27
EXPERIENCE THE SANCTUARY AFTER DARK – 25% OFF! 🌿✨
Step beyond the gates and into a forest transformed by night.
Join us for “A Night in the Forest,” our guided night tour through Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, where you can discover glowing glowworms, listen to the sounds of the nocturnal forest, and keep your ears open for the distinctive call of a kiwi. 🥝🌌
Along the way, hear how the Sanctuary’s conservation work helps restore native forest and protect some of Aotearoa’s most precious wildlife.
🎟️ GET 25% OFF: book your night tour for August or September 2026 and use code NIGHT25.
✨ New bookings only.
🌿 Every booking helps support the Sanctuary and its conservation work.
🌙 Spaces are limited.
Book now: www.brooksanctuary.org.nz/visit/guided-tours-experiences
Come after dark. Discover a different side of the Sanctuary. 🌌
#brookwaimāramasanctuary #sanctuaryafterdark #nelsontasman #nelsonnz #explorenelson #visitnelson
Aug 24
Our friends at Teltrac showed up the other day with a gift. Teltrac and GoWifi have been helping us set up our new fence monitoring system. The new system is now capable of monitoring the weather for us too, thanks to the weather station the they have donated.
We have mounted the weather station above the fence at the top of the Sanctuary. The data from it include rain intensity and accumulation, wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, UV index and more. It will allow rangers to make more informed decisions before going into the field during bad weather. Knowing exactly how bad it is up on the ridge when we are called out during storms will really help keep our rangers safe.
Many thanks for your continued support!
Aug 11
EXPERIENCE THE SANCTUARY AFTER DARK – 25% OFF! 🌿✨
Step beyond the gates and into a forest transformed by night.
Join us for “A Night in the Forest”, our guided night tour through Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. Discover glowing glow worms, listen to the sounds of the nocturnal forest, and keep your ears open for the distinctive call of a kiwi. 🥝🌌
Along the way, hear how the Sanctuary’s conservation work is helping restore native forest and protect some of Aotearoa’s most precious wildlife.
🎟️ GET 25% OFF
Book your night tour for August or September 2026 and use code: NIGHT25
✨ New bookings only
🌿 Every booking helps support the Sanctuary and its conservation work
🌙 Spaces are limited
👉 Book now: www.brooksanctuary.org.nz/visit/guided-tours-experiences
Come after dark. Discover a different side of the Sanctuary. 🌌
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #WaimāramaSanctuary #SanctuaryAfterDark #NightTour #NightInTheForest #NelsonNZ #NelsonTasman #VisitNelson #ExploreNelson
Aug 10
The Sanctuary is nestled into what seems like an untouched forest of around 166,000 hectares! The Richmond forest however, is not untouched by the paws and hoofs of invasive mammals. The understory is thin, dominated by inedible crown ferns and horopito. Mistletoes are sparse, snails are munched, and birds are few and far between.
This video depicts the stark contrast between forest that has never received pest control, and the pest-free Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. The Sanctuary`s plant and bird communities have bounced back incredibly after 9 years without mammalian pests. Listen to the overwhelming sounds of korimako, tūī, and even the kākāriki karaka that narrowly escaped extinction.
We expect that in 9 years from now, the Sanctuary will look even more starkly different, with mistletoes taking over the forest, kākā reigning the skies, and a wildly diverse birdsong.
#brookwaimāramasanctuary
Aug 10
