Welcome to Kaipūpū Sanctuary

Kaipūpū Sanctuary is a 45-hectare mainland sanctuary in Picton Harbour, where we are working to restore native biodiversity and create a safe haven for native birds, plants and wildlife. The sanctuary is managed by Picton Dawn Chorus, a charitable organisation run predominantly by volunteers who give their time to protect and restore this special place.

Why do visitors need to sign in?

To help us meet our Health and Safety responsibilities, all visitors to Kaipūpū are asked to complete the visitor sign-in process with Penny before visiting or upon arrival at the sanctuary. The visitor pass system allows us to know who is on the sanctuary at any given time, which is particularly important in the event of an emergency or evacuation. It also helps us better understand how people are using and enjoying Kaipūpū.

Why are we asking for a Koha?

There is no admission fee to Kaipūpū Sanctuary, and the money you pay to travel to the sanctuary by water taxi goes directly to the water taxi company. We are therefore asking visitors if they would like to make a Koha when they sign in.

Kaipūpū is a charity, and the sanctuary is maintained largely through the generosity of our volunteers, supporters and donors. Your Koha goes directly towards the work of protecting and restoring Kaipūpū Sanctuary, including predator control, biodiversity restoration, track and fence maintenance, planting, monitoring and visitor facilities.

Every contribution, large or small, helps us continue this work and ensures Kaipūpū remains a thriving sanctuary for native wildlife and a special place for people to visit and enjoy.