23/05/2026
Today I had the absolute privilege of visiting , hosted by the wonderfully passionate and knowledgeable .pitcher, who showed me around this spectacular conservation estate.
And wow - what a place.
We saw takahē, fresh kiwi and penguin tracks, seabird nesting areas, regenerated native bush, sand dunes, incredible views, and three nurseries growing the next generation of trees ready for planting.
We also saw many midden sites - ancient places that tell stories of the people who lived, gathered, cooked and cared for this land long before us.
Established in 2006, Cape Sanctuary began with a local family’s ambition to help rewrite the future for Hawke’s Bay’s declining birdlife. Through habitat restoration, pest control and the translocation of endangered species back to the peninsula, it has become something truly special.
And now, with the next phase focused on seabird species, there is even more to come.
This is going to be a tourism gem in the very near future.
Watch this space.
