Last updated November 2026
A 600-metre fence across a narrow neck of land is what turned a headland outside Picton into a predator-free sanctuary. Kaipupu Point Scenic Reserve separates Picton Harbour from Shakespeare Bay, and inside it the community group Picton Dawn Chorus runs Kaipūpū Sanctuary, home to nesting blue penguins, wētā, geckos and native birds such as korimako and tūī.
Because the fence closes the land route, you arrive by water: the trust says it is about ten minutes from Picton, by water taxi from the waterfront off London Quay or by your own boat or kayak.
A 2.7 km loop track takes 1.5 to 2 hours. The sanctuary is open every day of the year, and there is no entry charge, though donations are welcome.
Practical Information
- Location
- Kaipupu Point, between Picton Harbour and Shakespeare Bay, Picton
- Distance from the city
- About 27 km from Blenheim in a straight line; about ten minutes by water from Picton
- Size
- About 27 hectares (Herenga ā Nuku reserve data)
- Access
- By water only: water taxis from the Picton waterfront off London Quay (book with the operator), or own boat or kayak to the floating jetty and kayak ramp at Dolphin Bay on the western side
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation (scenic reserve); the sanctuary is run by Picton Dawn Chorus
- Opening hours
- Open every day of the year
- Walking times
- 2.7 km loop, 1.5 to 2 hours; northern lookout about 45 minutes return
- Fees
- No entry charge; donations welcome (donation box near the jetty)
- Status
- Picton Dawn Chorus: Kaipūpū Sanctuary Plan Your Visit page
About Kaipupu Point Scenic Reserve
The land was made a scenic reserve in 1986, according to the Gazette notice recorded in Herenga ā Nuku’s reserve data, and the Department of Conservation manages it. The sanctuary project inside it came later.
A DigitalNZ story by Anna Polson explains that Port Marlborough proposed a “mainland island” on the point with DOC’s support, and after talks with local people the Kaipūpū Point Mainland Island Society formed in 2005.
The same story says the predator-proof fence went up in 2008: 2 metres tall and 600 metres long, running across the isthmus from Picton Harbour to Shakespeare Bay, paid for with a grant from the Canterbury Community Trust.
Volunteers then ran rat trapping from 2010 to 2012, followed by two poison drops late in 2012, and kept weeding land once cleared for grazing.
The floating jetty and kayak ramp at Dolphin Bay were built in 2012, the loop track was finished that November, and the sanctuary opened to the public on 17 March 2013, with then Minister of Conservation Dr Nick Smith doing the honours.
Today the sanctuary sits under the umbrella of Picton Dawn Chorus, a non-profit community group and charitable trust. Donations go towards track maintenance and running costs.
Wildlife and Forest
The trust describes regenerating bush alongside old-growth beech and tawa forest, with rimu, miro and tōtara, ferns and other native plants. Blue penguins nest here, and the trust names korimako (bellbirds) and tūī among the birds, along with “ancient” wētā and geckos. With water on three sides, fur seals are sometimes seen too.
The DigitalNZ story notes that bird counts on the point began in October 2007, with bellbirds as the core indicator species.
The trust asks visitors not to feed any animals or birds, since human food can harm them, and to take all rubbish home if you bring a picnic.
The Loop Track
The circular track is 2.7 km and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. The trust says the first part is moderately steep but short, and the route gives views over Tōtaranui (Queen Charlotte Sound). If you are short of time, the return walk to the northern lookout takes about 45 minutes. Water taxis are booked directly with the operator.
Where to Learn More
Picton Dawn Chorus: Kaipūpū Sanctuary, Plan Your Visit: getting there by water taxi or your own boat, the loop track and donations.
DigitalNZ: Kaipūpū, Creation of the Sanctuary: Anna Polson’s story of the fence, the volunteers and the opening.
Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa: Outdoor access maps: public access maps covering reserve land such as Kaipupu Point Scenic Reserve. Reserve data: Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, Outdoor Access Commission, from LINZ and DOC data (CC BY 4.0).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Kaipūpū Sanctuary?
By water only. Water taxis run from the Picton waterfront off London Quay, or you can take your own boat or kayak to the floating jetty and kayak ramp at Dolphin Bay.
How long does the boat trip take?
Picton Dawn Chorus says the sanctuary is about ten minutes by water from Picton.
How long is the walk?
The loop track is 2.7 km and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. The return walk to the northern lookout takes about 45 minutes.
Does it cost anything to visit?
There is no entry charge, but donations are welcome, either in the box near the jetty or online. Water taxis are booked directly with the operators.
When is the sanctuary open?
Every day of the year.
What wildlife can I see?
Nesting blue penguins, korimako, tūī, wētā and geckos, with fur seals sometimes seen in the water.
Who looks after Kaipupu Point?
The scenic reserve is managed by the Department of Conservation, and the sanctuary is run by Picton Dawn Chorus, a community charitable trust.
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