1 / 3Kaipupu Sanctuary
đ Picton, Marlborough
Kaipupu Sanctuary is a predator-free reserve on a peninsula near Picton. Reached by water taxi, it offers guided walks through native bush with knowledgeable guides. Entry to the sanctuary is free.
A wonderful guided tour around the Kaipupu sanctuary walk. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the native flora and fauna and history of the peninsula. Amazing that this is all developed and maintained by volunteers, a real credit to the community! You can feel the difference between the regeneration of native vegetation compared to the historic and established forest. Our guide, Mark, had some lovely stories and anecdotes (ask about the tutu and the elephants!)
đ Family Action Verdict
Reviewers with knowledgeable guides describe the experience as wonderful â the native bush setting, the predator-free birdlife, and the water taxi approach all combine into a memorable family outing. Being greeted by a seal at the jetty is a frequently mentioned highlight.
âšī¸ What to Know Before You Go
đŦ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews â112 Google reviews
Charlotte Colson
a month ago
âA wonderful guided tour around the Kaipupu sanctuary walk. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the native flora and fauna and history of the peninsula. Amazing that this is all developed and maintained by volunteers, a real credit to the community! You can feel the difference between the regeneration of native vegetation compared to the historic and established forest. Our guide, Mark, had some lovely stories and anecdotes (ask about the tutu and the elephants!)â
Dave Perano
a year ago
âBeautiful walk through amazing native bush close to civilisation (Picton) very east and great viewsâ
Haldoor Honey
3 years ago
âHad a nice walk around the free sanctuary after catching a water taxi ($80 return for 1-4 people) there. We were welcomed by a seal waiting at the jetty! Gave him plenty of room so he could get back into the water before we went through the gate and up to the path. Didn't see as many birds as we hoped, but did manage to see both a kereru and some fantails, and we heard bellbirds and tuis. Made for a good walk, but probably should have allowed more than the hour and a half that we did before the water taxi was due back, so we could have had a bit more of a leisurely stroll (and perhaps seen more birdlife!). Great views of the sound as we moved around the loop track.â
Brendan Meredith
a year ago
âViewed from the outside, at Queen Charlotte Drive, view of the Port Log area also. This and Quail all flitting about in a short walk.â
Reviews from Google
Overview
Kaipupu Sanctuary occupies a peninsula in the Marlborough Sounds, accessible from Picton by water taxi. The sanctuary is predator-free, supporting native bird populations in a well-preserved bush environment. Guided tours are available, with reviewers praising guides for their depth of knowledge about native flora, fauna, and the peninsula's history. Visitors have reported being welcomed by a seal at the jetty.
