Arapaoa Island (previously known as Arapawa Island), is the second largest island in the Marlborough Sounds, and thirteenth largest in Aotearoa / New Zealand.
It is separated from the mainland on its southern coast by Tory Channel, with the smallest separation of about 570m at the Tory Channel Heads.
To its west are the predator free islands of Blumine Island, Pickersgill Island, Long Island and Motuara Island. Motuara and Blumine Islands are used for Rowi Kiwi recovery and Long Island for Little Spotted Kiwi recovery.
Arapaoa Island, is a mixture of farm, regenerating bush, conservation reserve, private land and plantation forestry (some currently being harvested). There are a number of sheltered bays with moorings, jetties, holiday and permanent homes on the Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte sides. The Cook Strait side is very rugged and steep.
Arapaoa Island is easily accessible by boat from Picton and Waikawa. It is an important island for recreation and recreational boating, with 2 DOC campsites (Wharehunga Bay and Ngaruru Bay) and the Waikawa Bay Boat Club, Mana Cruising Club and Pelorus Boat Club have a number of shared moorings available to its members and Outward Bound also have a number of moorings in its bays.