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Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Cardrona Bra Fence

In the period between 1998 and 1999, people started attaching bras to a rural fence in Central Otago, New Zealand. The fence which is known as The Cardrona Bra Fence has grown in popularity over the years. Although it is considered a controversial tourist attraction, the fence has hundreds of bras hanging on it. The fence is located near a farm property in the Southwest of Wanaka close to Cardrona. It鈥檚 located in the Cardrona Valley on a public road near the Cardrona Distillery.

Below are ten amazing facts about the Cardrona Bra Fence.

1. The fence first appeared just before the millennium

 The Cardrona bra fence first began between Christmas 1998 and New Year 1999. Four bras were attached to a fence along the road and it is still not clear what made it all start. More bras were added to the fence and the local landowners did not remove them.

Word spread about the additions and more bras were added to the fence. A few weeks later in February, there were about 60 bras on the fence. The additions were reported in the press and the story gained a lot of popularity. This led to the addition of more bras to the fence.   

2. In about ten months, the fence had become a tourist attraction site

A close-up view of the Cardrona Bra Fence in New Zealand. The photo was taken on 24th March 2006. Photo by Ildefonse/

There were 200 bras on that fence by October 2000. The bras were again removed from the fence and this made the story spread even wider. The site was an unconventional tourist attraction site and this made the story spread.

Media houses from as far as Europe began talking about the story. This interest significantly increased the number of bras added to the fence. The bras were either added personally or sent to be added. There were about 800 bras on the fence by early 2006.

3. The fence has not been accepted by everyone and is considered a controversial site

Some of the locals considered the fence a tourist attraction site and were happy with it. On the other hand, some people thought it was embarrassing and not a pretty site to have the bras displayed on the fence.

Others argued that the fence posed a risk to road users such as drivers. Several legal attempts were made to remove the bras. These attempts increased in early 2006 and about 200 bras were removed from the fence.

Those who wanted the bras removed argued that it was considered offensive to some cultures. They said that there were Japanese students in a nearby W膩naka who would be offended. It was said that South Africans and Asians would also be offended.

4. The bra fence was 100,000 bras short of a world record

A December 2002 image of the Cardrona Bra Fence. Photo by (nz)dave/

John Lee, a local sheep farmer became the unofficial guardian of the fence. He refused to remove the bras stating that 90 percent of the letters he received about the fence were positive. He also said that the bras were the most photographed site in the area.

The local Council considered the fence an eyesore and a traffic hazard. On 28 April 2006, the council realized the fence was on a public road reserve and wanted the bras removed. This led to an attempt to make the world’s largest bra chain.

That year during the annual festival in the neighboring W膩naka, an attempt was made to create the longest chain. The bra chain reached about 7,400 bras. This was about 100,000 bras short of the world record. Nonetheless, the festival raised more than USD 10,000 for charity.

5. You can see the Fence as you drive past that road in Cardrona, New Zealand

The fence is located on a public road that is visible as you drive along Cardrona road. You will come across a long line of bras on a fence. Hundreds of bras were hung on this fence to help raise funds for patients with breast cancer.

6. The fence got its name during a 2015 breast cancer fundraising event

A pink ribbon marking breast cancer day in 2020. Photo by Angiola Harry on

In 2015, a breast cancer fundraising event was held and this gave the fence its Bradrona name. During the event, USD 30,000 was raised. Since that event, several other fences came up in the region and the country. This is however the initial fence that you should visit when you are in New Zealand.

7. You can mail your bra to the caretaker before your visit

FedEx Delivery vehicle. Photo by Bannon Morrissy on

You can leave a bra at the fence anytime you visit Otago in New Zealand. This can be the bra you are wearing. You can also mail a bra to the caretaker in advance if you do not want to leave the one you are wearing. The caretaker鈥檚 address is 2125 Cardrona Valley Road, RD1, Wanaka, 9381.

8. The bra fence had to be moved as it was said to be causing a lot of traffic

Cars in a traffic jam. Photo by Kathy on

A thief began cutting the bras from the fence and removing them at night which made the fence more popular. Each time some bras were removed, even more, were added to the fence.

The Cardrona bra fence became popular because it was said to be causing a lot of traffic. It was then moved from the highway to the Kelly Spaans driveway.

9. Several other fences came up after the Cardrona Fence

The initial bra fence became so popular that similar fences came up in other places in the country. There are similar fences in Nelson, Wairarapa, and Tapawera. The original fence is however the most popular.

10. You can stop at the fence and take some photos at the popular site

Cardrona Hotel in New Zealand. Photo by Kate Branch on

Along the Queenstown, to W膩naka route there are several places you can stop for photo opportunities. The Cardrona bra fence is one such spot. You can stop for photos and or leave a bra.