Stay Where Miss Universe NZ Jewellery Is Grown: Dog-Friendly Couples Welcome

Imagine waking up on an island in the Marlborough Sounds, a quiet little bay at the Top of the South. Stepping out onto your deck with a coffee in hand, and knowing that the very same Pāua Pearls adorning the Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 contestants were grown just steps away.
That’s not a dream, it’s your reality when you book a stay at Arapawa Blue Pearls.

We’re incredibly proud to be the official pearl partner for Miss Universe New Zealand 2026. Our team hand-selected and crafted bespoke pāua pearl pendants for every single contestant. The winner received a stunning blue pearl necklace and earrings set, while the runners-up each received a beautiful blue pearl necklace.

All grown sustainably right here on Arapaoa Island!

These aren’t just jewels; they’re pieces of New Zealand’s ocean, potentially worn on one of the world’s biggest stages.

And now, you can stay where it all happens.

Arapaoa Island (often called Arapawa Island) sits at the dramatic meeting point of Queen Charlotte Sound, Tory Channel, and the wild Cook Strait. It’s the second-largest island in the Marlborough Sounds.

A rugged and breathtaking landscape of rolling green hills, native bush, hidden coves, and pristine sandy or rocky beaches. Getting here is part of the adventure and a feature of the experience. No roads onto the island. You’ll arrive at the island by water taxi/private boat (about an hour from Picton), or helicopter if that's how you roll.

When leaving the mainland behind as you glide through some of New Zealand’s most spectacular coastal scenery, about 1/5 of New Zealand's coastline is found through the sounds, as the drowned valleys create extensive coves, bays and inlets. Think dolphins playing in the bow wave, seabirds flying overhead, and dramatic cliffs rising from the sea at the Cook Stait coastlines, as if giants carved them long ago.

Whekenui Bay, where the family pearl farm is based, will feel like your own private world. The air is fresh with cool breezes and open pastures. The only sounds are waves on the shore, birdsong, and the occasional call of a cow, sheep , or seagull. 

It’s on grid, with generators on standby, modern appliances, and cell towers close by to keep as connected, or disconnected from the world as you’d like. This is where our sustainable Pāua pearl farming happens, in the land-based tanks that help to protect the future of the species while producing the world’s rarest naturally blue pearls.

The island itself has a rich history too. Once home to whaling stations and early settlers, now a haven for conservation and regenerative aquaculture. Staying here connects you directly to New Zealand’s marine heritage in the most authentic way possible, while being close to one of the most bountiful seashores around, the Cook Strait.

Choose from our three charming, self-contained baches, all within easy walking distance of the pearl farm tanks and the beach:


The Beach House Retreat: Steps from the sand, with floor-to-ceiling ocean views and the sound of waves as your lullaby.

The School House: A beautifully restored historic cottage from the whaling era, full of character and cosy charm.

The Arapawa Homestead (Gunyah):  Spacious and private, perfect for couples who want a little extra room to spread out, and to watch ferries drift by while looking out at the Channel entrance.


Each bach is fully equipped with a kitchen, comfortable beds, living areas, and private decks overlooking the water. It’s simple, elegant, and deeply relaxing. The kind of place where time slows down, and you truly reconnect to one another with only whomever you wish to bring with you.Right now, we’re offering our exclusive Couples’ Rate of just $250 per night (for two people, available February–November). It’s an exceptional value for such a unique, private island experience. A perfect spot for anniversaries, proposals, romantic getaways, or simply pressing pause on life.

In the end, staying at Arapawa Blue Pearls is about so much more than a romantic getaway.
It’s about stepping directly into the story of New Zealand’s rarest blue pearls. On this private corner of Arapaoa Island in the Marlborough Sounds, the same pristine waters and sustainable land-based tanks that grow the official Miss Universe New Zealand 2026 jewellery sit just steps from your bach.

This is the rare place where sustainable luxury, meaningful connection, and authentic New Zealand nature come together. Wake up to the sound of waves on Whekenui Bay, walk past the very pearl tanks that created the Miss Universe pieces, and take home memories (and perhaps your own custom piece of jewellery) that will last a lifetime.

Arapaoa Island isn’t just a destination, it’s where the magic of Arapawa Blue Pearls begins, and where your unforgettable island story can start too. In partnership with projects like Miss Universe New Zealand, we hope to continue helping represent New Zealand on the world stage and foster appreciation for one of its incredible natural beauties.

This will hopefully be the start of an incredible journey for our brand and everyone involved in creating something endemically distinct from what we have out here.