Blumine Island Scenic Reserve near Blenheim: Pest-Free Ōruawairua, Rare Birds and Wartime Guns

Last updated November 2026

There is no jetty on Blumine Island Scenic Reserve, so boat visitors anchor offshore and wade in with wet feet.

The island, also called Ōruawairua, lies in Queen Charlotte Sound opposite Endeavour Inlet, about 22 km from Picton, and the Department of Conservation manages all of it as a scenic reserve. It is a pest-free island, and DOC has moved rare birds here, including tīeke (saddleback) and the orange-fronted parakeet.

Ashore you’ll find a north-facing seafront DOC campsite, an easy track with several lookouts, and the remains of a Second World War gun battery. You can reach it by your own boat, water taxi from Picton or sea kayak.

Practical Information

Location

Queen Charlotte Sound, opposite Endeavour Inlet, about 22 km from Picton by water

Distance from the city

About 44 km from Blenheim in a straight line; the nearest town is Picton

Access

Own boat, water taxi from Picton or sea kayak; no jetty or moorings, so anchor and land on the beach

Managed by

Department of Conservation

Walking times

Ōruawairua Track (easy): about 1 hour each way from the campsite to the gun emplacements

Dogs

DOC’s general rule for island reserves in the Marlborough Sounds: no dogs, cats or other pets (the Blumine pages give no separate dog rule)

Facilities

DOC backcountry campsite (bookings required all year)

Fees

Campsite: adult $10, child (5 to 17) $5 per night, infants free; DOC Campsite Pass accepted

Status

Department of Conservation: Blumine Island Scenic Reserve page

About Blumine Island Scenic Reserve

Blumine’s story as a reserve began early. DOC records that it was declared a Pilot and Signal Station Reserve in 1865, then used for sheep farming. In 1912 a 113-acre scenic reserve was set aside on the southern side, and today the whole island is a DOC scenic reserve.

Its value now is as a refuge. Because it is free of rats, mice and other pests, DOC has used it for some of New Zealand’s rarest birds. Tīeke were translocated in 2009; the South Island saddleback came close to extinction last century. Orange-fronted parakeets, which DOC classes as “nationally critical”, followed in 2011 and 2012.

In 2010 three pairs of non-breeding rowi were moved to the island, and DOC also names a sponsored mohua translocation. Weka are common, and DOC asks visitors not to feed them and to watch their lunch. Along the track, look for the wētā “motels” put out for resident wētā.

Keeping it that way depends on visitors. DOC asks you to check your boat for rats, mice and ants, including droppings and gnawing, to keep fresh bait or traps on board and where the boat is stored, and to make sure all gear, especially camping gear, is pest-free.

Take extra care if you live where Argentine ants are found. Report any pest sighting to 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

The Wartime Battery

In February 1942, with fears of a Japanese invasion and a need for a secure anchorage for the United States Navy fleet, the Public Works Department began building two gun emplacements on Blumine. Each had its own observation post and magazine. Barracks for up to two officers and twenty men were built at the top of 215 steps.

DOC says the guns were ready by September 1942 and were proof-fired on 9 March 1943. Within months the battery was put into care and maintenance, in September 1943, and it was formally disestablished in December 1945.

The historic road leads north-west past a magazine to the western gun emplacement. The eastern emplacement lies about 20 minutes further along, and beyond its magazine are the 215 steps up to the barracks foundations.

At low tide two pieces of railway iron mark the old wharf on the north-western shore, and remains of the Public Works Department camp, including an old dam, sit on a terrace nearby.

Camping and Walking on the Island

The DOC campsite is a north-facing seafront site. DOC classes it as a backcountry campsite and requires bookings all year, with no spaces held for people who turn up without one. Fees are $10 a night for adults and $5 for children aged 5 to 17; infants are free, and the DOC Campsite Pass can be used.

From the campsite, the Ōruawairua Track heads to the western gun emplacement. DOC grades it easy: mostly a gentle gradient around the hill with a couple of short steep sections and several lookouts, and views over Queen Charlotte Sound and Long Island from the western emplacement.

DOC’s Queen Charlotte Sound page says the Sounds have a restricted fire season all year, and any fire needs a permit. Treat drinking water, and check the marine forecast before crossing: DOC notes that conditions can change quickly on the water.

Where to Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Blumine Island?

By your own boat, water taxi from Picton or sea kayak. The island is about 22 km from Picton in Queen Charlotte Sound.

Is there a jetty?

No. There are no moorings or jetty, so boats anchor and visitors wade ashore.

Can I camp on Blumine Island?

Yes, at the DOC backcountry campsite on the north-facing shore. Bookings are required all year, and the fee is $10 a night for adults and $5 for children aged 5 to 17.

What birds can I see?

DOC has translocated tīeke (saddleback) and orange-fronted parakeets to the island, and weka are commonly seen.

What is the history of the gun emplacements?

The Public Works Department built two gun emplacements from February 1942. The guns were proof-fired in March 1943, and the battery was disestablished in December 1945.

How long is the walk to the gun emplacements?

DOC gives about 1 hour each way from the campsite on the easy Ōruawairua Track.

Can I bring my dog?

No. DOC’s general rule is that dogs, cats and other pets are not allowed on island reserves in the Marlborough Sounds. The Blumine pages don’t state a separate rule.

What is Blumine Island’s Māori name?

Ōruawairua. DOC uses both names for the island.

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