Just minutes from central Nelson, the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is the South Island’s largest fully fenced eco-sanctuary—690 hectares of protected native forest, alive with rare and threatened species. It’s a place to slow down, breathe deeply, and experience the mauri (life force) of Aotearoa as it once was.
Home to kiwi, tuatara, kākāriki and more, the Sanctuary offers over 15km of walking tracks, as well as guided day and night tours that reveal the forest’s hidden life. Every visit supports vital conservation work, species recovery, and a bold vision for a predator-free future.
Community-led and supported, the Sanctuary is a living example of what’s possible when people and nature work together.
Come for a walk, stay for the stillness—and discover the real New Zealand, protected and thriving.
