Urban explorer: Nelson
25 November 2024
Nelson has it all: a vibrant centre, fabulous music scene, incredible outdoor opportunities, arts and crafts, culture and stellar marks for sunshine hours.
Brook Waimārama Sanctuary: Nelson’s nature reserve
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary on the outskirts of Nelson City is the largest fenced reserve for endangered wildlife in the South Island.
On the site of Nelson’s former waterworks, the sanctuary has been cultivated over the last 16 years to become a glimpse of what the New Zealand landscape would have once looked like.
Many species of native birds have been re-introduced here, including tītipounamu rifleman, kererū, korimako bellbird and miromiro tomtit.
From regenerating bush to beech forest, waterfalls, streams and weta hotels, the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is vibrant with life.
Visitors can choose from a number of tracks that cover the Sanctuary, whether you’re after a stroller and wheelchair-friendly walk, or something more intrepid that involves steep terrain and getting your feet wet in one of the many stream crossings.
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