Image: Danica Stent | DOC
Pohatu Marine Reserve.
Pōhatu Marine Reserve

Located in Banks Peninsula area in the Canterbury region

Pōhatu Marine Reserve is a sheltered bay on Banks Peninsula’s outer coastline. It is home to some characteristic marine animals like white-flippered blue penguins and New Zealand fur seals.

Pōhatu was established in 1999 and is 215 hectares. Pohatu Marine Reserve is 3 km from Akaroa Marine Reserve.

Access by land to the reserve is only suitable for 4WD vehicles and parking is limited.

To get to Pōhatu Marine Reserve, take State Highway 75 to Akaroa, then the gravel Lighthouse Road up to the Flea Bay Road turnoff.

The beach is surrounded by private land. Please respect the beach access provided.

Weather Warning

The weather can change rapidly, creating dangerous sea conditions and challenging driving on the gravel road to the reserve. Be prepared for rain and carry warm clothes.

Scuba Diver Warning

Scuba divers driving to the reserve need to be aware that the road reaches nearly 600 meters above sea level. Plan dives and surface times carefully to avoid decompression sickness (the bends) during the drive out. Snorkelers and divers should be aware of the limitations of their party members, as this is a relatively isolated area with no cell phone coverage or medical help available in the bay.

Wildlife

The reserve is home to seals, penguins, and dolphins that can become distressed when approached. Maintain the required distance from marine mammals to ensure a safe and respectful encounter.

Marine Reserve Rules

  • It is not permitted to take any animal or natural item from the reserve, including fish, shellfish, shells, seaweed, rocks, or driftwood.
  • Carefully replace rocks and stones if you lift them to observe marine life.
  • Stay on the main beach, as the surrounding area is private land and penguins nest there.
  • Remove all rubbish.
  • Dogs are not permitted in the reserve as they disturb wildlife.

Pōhatu Marine Reserve’s rock pools are home to dense communities of smaller sea creatures, and beneath the waves. It features a diverse range of water depths and seabed types. This combination of interesting topography and abundant marine life, both above and below the waterline, makes Pōhatu well worth a visit despite its remoteness.

Wildlife

About 2,600 kororā (white-flippered/little penguins) and some hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) breed at Pōhatu, which boasts the largest little penguin colony on the mainland.

They can be seen clustered in the undergrowth of the surrounding hills, up to 700 meters from the shore, and swimming in the bay in large coordinated groups. The outer reserve hosts a seal colony, and it is often visited by Hector’s dolphins and orcas, making the waters quite crowded on a good day.

The rocky shore platform around the edge of Flea Bay is rich with small animals and plants. Visitors who enjoy rockpooling will find a variety of crabs, shellfish, anemones, and seaweed. Albatrosses also cruise these waters and are most likely to be seen from the headlands.

Research

The Iongairo project, a partnership between papatipu rūnanga, ECan, the University of Otago and DOC to create detailed seafloor habitat maps around Banks Peninsula. This work will improve our knowledge of the biodiversity across the southern side of Banks Peninsula so we can protect these special areas.

Reporting pests

Find-A-Pest lets you report potential pest species, including marine, plant, animal and fungal species.

If you come across something out of the ordinary, upload a picture to the app and a specialist will help identify it. If it's a biosecurity threat, this will be forwarded to Biosecurity New Zealand. If possible, take photos and record the location and name of the vessel.

Or call the Ministry for Primary Industries' Pest and Diseases hotline on 0800 80 99 66.

Report illegal or suspicious activity

Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve - it's illegal. If you see people taking anything from the reserve, report the activity as soon as possible.

You can call 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224) or 0800 DOCHOT (0800 362 468).

It is also an offence to pollute or litter the reserve, discharge any firearm in or into the reserve or erect any structure in the reserve.