Tapuae Marine Reserve is on the rugged Taranaki coast close to New Plymouth. The energetic environment in the northern part of the reserve is broken by the Ngā Motu/Sugar Loaf Islands creating a wide variety of habitats and sheltered areas for marine life.
The 1404 hectare reserve adjoins the Sugar Loaf Island Marine Protected Area (SLIMPA) where a complexity of caves, canyons and crevices, boulder fields, mud and sand hosts a diverse and flourishing range of sea life.
Over 400 species live within the reserve boundaries including more than 80 species of fish. Reef fish are there like red moki, butterfly perch and scarlet wrasse as well as pelagic species such as John Dory, kingfish and gurnard.
The rocky reefs provide homes for kina, sea cucumbers, molluscs, starfish and rock lobsters while the islands and coastline provide haul out sites for the New Zealand fur seal.