Didn’t Kupe kill the octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi right here? That’s what Māori oral tradition says about Arapaoa Island. Welcome. I am excited to share the story of Arapaoa Island with you. It’s the second-largest island in the Marlborough Sounds.
Arapaoa Island covers 75 square kilometers. Queen Charlotte Sound marks its western edge. Tory Channel lies to the south. This channel is a sea route between Wellington and Picton. Cook Strait’s narrowest point sits between Arapaoa Island’s Perano Head and Cape Terawhiti.
In 1770, Captain James Cook saw the sea passage to the Tasman Sea from a hill on Arapaoa Island. He confirmed that Aotearoa is two main islands. Some say Joseph Banks named Cook Strait. This discovery disproved the idea of a great southern continent called Terra Australis. A monument at Cook’s Lookout was built in 1970.
From the late 1820s to the mid-1960s, Arapaoa Island was a whaling base. John Guard started a shore station at Te Awaiti in 1827. Initially, he salvaged baleen. From 1830, the station processed whale oil and targeted right whales. Later, Perano Head was used to hunt humpback whales from 1911 to 1964. The Perano family houses are now tourist spots. Former whalers from the Perano and Heberley families still live on Arapaoa. In the 2000s, they joined a whale spotting program to check humpback numbers.
In 1985, an Air Albatross plane crashed into power lines over Tory Channel. Many ferry passengers witnessed the crash. The ferry stopped to help. Two pilots and one entire family died. Only a young girl survived. The Arapaoa Island crash hurt Air Albatross’s reputation. The company went into liquidation that year.
In 2014, the island’s spelling changed from Arapawa to Arapaoa.
Much of Arapaoa Island has been cleared of native plants by burning and logging. Pine forests were planted. Wilding pines are now being poisoned. This helps native plants grow back. About 200 hectares at Ruaomoko Point will be cleared this way.
Arapaoa Island is known for its unique farm animals. These include the Arapawa pig, sheep and goat. They became established in the 19th century. Their origins are uncertain. Some think they are old English breeds brought by whalers or Captain Cook. These breeds are now extinct in England. The goats live in a sanctuary on the island and are bred elsewhere.
The Brothers Islands lie off Arapaoa Island’s northeast coast. They are a sanctuary for the rare Brothers Island tuatara.
The Radons live on Arapaoa Island. They farm land and sea. They homeschool their children. They feel they aren’t missing anything. Mike and Antonia Radon bought a farm near the old Perano home. They restored the Perano home. Next, they worked on the schoolhouse. Finally, they fixed up the main homestead where they live. The Radons host WWOOFers and guests. They see their place as a bridge between the old world and modern island life.
At Arapawa Blue Pearls, you can tour the Paua Pearl Farm. Walks let you take in the island’s spectacular views. You might even see Mt Taranaki. Fishing is popular off the wharf. A major attraction is feeding the long-finned eels that thrive in the creek.
Guests can arrive by helicopter. The island offers something for everyone. There is farming life, wildlife, and domestic farm animals. You can watch for the mail boat. You can gaze at the stars in an unpolluted sky. You might see seals, whales, and dolphins. You can go diving or relax on the beach. You can go mountain biking, hiking, walking, or cycling. You can learn about Arapaoa Island’s history. You can explore the Marlborough Sounds.