{"id":396919,"date":"2026-01-07T06:33:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T06:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/396919\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T06:33:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T06:33:35","slug":"cape-kidnappers-celebrates-20-years-of-conservation-and-golf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/396919\/","title":{"rendered":"Cape Kidnappers Celebrates 20 Years of Conservation and Golf"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The 10-km predator-proof fence that creates the Cape Sanctuary, with Hawkes Bay in the distance (Image courtesy of Cape Kidnappers GC)<\/p>\n

The journey to the first tee at Cape Kidnappers is unlike any other in the world. It begins at the edge of Hawkes Bay and winds four kilometers inland, climbing 200 meters above the Pacific. But the true threshold isn\u2019t marked by a bunker or a green\u2014it\u2019s a two-meter-high, predator-proof fence.<\/p>\n

In 2026, Cape Sanctuary officially celebrates its 20th anniversary. As the largest privately owned and operated predator-fenced sanctuary in New Zealand, this 2,500-hectare (6,177-acre) preserve represents a landmark marriage between world-class luxury and radical environmentalism.<\/p>\n

A Fortress for the Flightless<\/p>\n

The \u201cneighbor\u201d that makes this ecosystem possible is a 10-kilometer fence that stretches across the peninsula, sealing off the land from invasive predators like feral cats, stoats, and ferrets. Inside this perimeter, life flourishes in a way that is increasingly rare on the mainland.<\/p>\n

The sanctuary is home to a \u201cWho\u2019s Who\u201d of New Zealand\u2019s endangered species:<\/p>\n

The Kiwi: These iconic flightless birds are known to leave their distinct three-toed tracks in the bunkers before dawn.
\nThe Takah\u0113: A \u201cbig blue chicken\u201d that is among the rarest birds on earth. With only 550 left globally, a new colony is set to be introduced to the clubhouse grounds in 2026.
\nK\u0101k\u0101 and K\u0101k\u0101riki: Native parrots that find sanctuary in the forest corridors lining the fairways.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe golf course is a brilliant marriage of habitats,\u201d says Sanctuary Manager Rachel Ward. \u201cThe kiwis love the gullies between holes because they stay damp from irrigation even in the dry season. It\u2019s a privilege to see them thriving alongside the golfers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two Decades of \u201cThe Mainland Island\u201d<\/p>\n

The vision for the property was forged in the 1990s when American financier Julian Robertson teamed up with local landowner Andy Lowe. While the Tom Doak-designed course debuted in 2004 to immediate international acclaim\u2014currently ranked in the world\u2019s top 100\u2014it was the 2006 establishment of the Sanctuary that truly defined the property\u2019s soul.<\/p>\n

Today, the land is a multi-layered success story. Within the fence sits:<\/p>\n

The Golf Course: A dramatic cliff-top masterpiece.
\nRosewood Cape Kidnappers: Often cited as the finest lodge in global golf.
\nA Working Ranch: 2,000 hectares of cattle and sheep farming.
\nA Conservation Powerhouse: More than 500 hectares of retired farmland have been restored, alongside 1,000 hectares of coastal forest.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

From left: The flightless takah\u0113, of which only 550 exist; fresh kiwi tracks in a bunker at Cape Kidnappers GC; the course\u2019s deep ravines are another kiwi favorite, for their year-round moisture (and bugs). (Credit: SocialImage.co.nz for the bird shot; Nick Wall\/AirSwing for the aerial; all others courtesy of Cape Kidnappers GC.)<\/p>\n

The Perfect Partner<\/p>\n

For Course Superintendent Brad Sim, managing a top-tier course inside a wildlife preserve offers unique rewards.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wildlife seems to love the golf course and we love the sightings,\u201d Sim says. \u201cThe takah\u0113 will be a great addition to the family because they are so visible to our guests. After 20 years, it\u2019s a great time to reflect on the team effort that has produced these results.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Cape Sanctuary enters its third decade, the mission is expanding. With plans to increase the takah\u0113 population and continue restoring locally extinct species, Cape Kidnappers is proving that the \u201cmainland island\u201d model isn\u2019t just an experiment\u2014it\u2019s the future of sustainable luxury.<\/p>\n

To celebrate two decades of this extraordinary \u201cmainland island,\u201d Cape Sanctuary and Rosewood Cape Kidnappers have curated a series of events and guides for 2026. Whether you are a golfer, a birdwatcher, or a luxury traveler, there are several ways to engage with the 20th-anniversary milestone.<\/p>\n

2026 Anniversary Events & Initiatives<\/p>\n

The 20th anniversary is being marked by several \u201cnext-level\u201d conservation expansions and exclusive guest experiences:<\/p>\n

The Takah\u0113 Clubhouse Introduction: The headline event for 2026 is the establishment of a resident group of takah\u0113 (large, flightless blue birds) specifically around the golf clubhouse and lodge grounds. Because they are \u201ccharismatic and curious,\u201d they are being positioned as the sanctuary\u2019s primary ambassadors for visitors.
\nThe \u201cCape Sanctuary Experience\u201d Anniversary Tour: A newly enhanced 3-hour guided journey that explores the Ocean Beach Wilderness Area. This tour highlights the transformation from \u201cblank hillsides in 2005\u201d to the lush coastal forests of today.
\nLegacy Reforestation Project: As part of the anniversary, the sanctuary is pushing to complete the restoration of nearly 1,000 hectares of remnant coastal forest and dune systems, a massive scaling up from their initial projects.
\nCollaboration Renovations: In a nod to the golf course\u2019s 20th year, architect Tom Doak has collaborated with the club on sensitive course renovations that ensure the playing surfaces remain world-class while respecting the sanctuary\u2019s boundaries.<\/p>\n

A Golfer\u2019s Guide to Sanctuary Wildlife<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re playing a round at Cape Kidnappers in 2026, keep your eyes peeled for these \u201clocals\u201d who share the fairways:<\/p>\n

Species
\nWhere to Spot Them
\nFun Fact<\/p>\n

Kiwi
\nBunkers and roughs (pre-dawn)
\nYou\u2019ll likely see their \u201ccute little tracks\u201d in the sand if you\u2019re the first group off.<\/p>\n

Takah\u0113
\nClubhouse lawns and 1st tee
\nOnce thought extinct, they look like \u201cbig blue chickens\u201d and have zero fear of golfers.<\/p>\n

K\u0101k\u0101
\nMature trees and forest corridors
\nThese large, cheeky parrots are often heard screeching from the gum trees and macrocarpas.<\/p>\n

K\u0101k\u0101riki
\nShrubby edges and \u201cbush\u201d rough
\nSmall, vibrant green parrots with a red crown. They love the manuka and kanuka trees.<\/p>\n

Gannets
\nThe cliffs (holes 12\u201316)
\nHome to the world\u2019s largest mainland colony, look for them diving into the Pacific from 500 feet up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 10-km predator-proof fence that creates the Cape Sanctuary, with Hawkes Bay in the distance (Image courtesy of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":396920,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[566],"tags":[64,63,755,85],"class_list":["post-396919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-golf","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396919","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=396919"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396919\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/396920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=396919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=396919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=396919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}