Sight · Queenstown-Lakes District, New Zealand
Quirky bra-lined fence with a breast cancer cause
Overview
A quick, quirky pause on the Crown Range/Cardrona Valley Road, Bradrona is a fence covered in thousands of donated bras—part photo op, part community artwork, and part fundraiser. It’s a lighthearted stop that breaks up the drive between Wānaka and Queenstown and takes just a few minutes if you’re time-crunched.
Map
Local know-how
Bring a pre-loved bra and a small cash donation for the box.
Use the designated pull-off and keep kids well away from the road.
Aim for early morning or late afternoon for softer light and fewer crowds.
In winter, check Crown Range road conditions before driving.
Secure any bra you add and pack out all other rubbish.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Queenstown-Lakes District, New Zealand. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Queenstown-Lakes District audio tourRecorded for this place
Bradrona: The Quirky Bra Fence with a Cause“The quirky sight coming up is the Bradrona fence. It’s exactly what it sounds like—a long fence covered in thousands of bras.”
Plays as you drive up to Bradrona in the Parkwolf Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
The first four bras appeared between Christmas 1998 and New Year 1999, and the idea snowballed. Over time it became a symbol of breast cancer awareness, with many bras carrying personal messages and dedications. A donation box on-site supports breast-cancer causes, turning a roadside curiosity into something with heart.
Rows of colorful bras flutter in the valley winds—odd, eye-catching, and photogenic. Snap the big-picture scene or get close-ups of handwritten notes. If you’re keen to contribute, bring a pre-loved bra and secure it firmly, then drop a few coins to support the cause.
Expect minimal infrastructure: no restrooms, no picnic tables, no water. Treat it as a brief stop, use facilities in nearby Cardrona township, and pack out everything you bring.
The fence sits in high-country tussock and river-flat landscape. You may spot common upland birds overhead and livestock in nearby paddocks. Sun can be strong, wind sudden—hat, sunscreen, and a jumper are smart even for a short stop.
Combine Bradrona with a meal or photo at the historic Cardrona Hotel, a detour to local ski fields in winter, or a longer Queenstown–Wānaka loop through the Cardrona Valley.
Wildlife
189 sightingsKeaMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
18 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
195 sightingsKererūMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
48 sightingsWekaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
239 sightingsTūīMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
97 sightingsBellbirdMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Queenstown-Lakes District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
Lodging · 2.3 km awayCardrona HotelIconic gold‑rush pub with gardens, hearty fare, and cozy rooms
Sight · 5.6 km awayCardrona Alpine ResortNew Zealand's largest ski field with world-class parks and big views
Sight · 6 km awaySnow Farm NZDedicated cross‑country ski area with huts, tubing, and Pisa Range viewsParkwolf’s Queenstown-Lakes District ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
