Activities in Pōhatu Marine Reserve
Bird and wildlife watching
There are many birds here who depend on the sea for food. Keep an eye out for fairy prions/tītī and tern/tara. If you have patience you might see a shag/kōau drying its wings in the sun, or a gull/tara wrestling with an unlucky mussel. Observe the birds from a distance so that you do not disturb them - particularly the yellow-eyed penguins/hoiho and white-flippered penguin/kororā that breed here.
You can see mussels/kūtai, limpets/ngākihi, chiton, sea tulips/kāeo, whelks, crabs/ pāpaka, catseyes/pūpū, barnacles/koromāungaunga, periwinkles/ngaeti, tubeworms, brown, red and green seaweed around the rocks, protruding from the sandy beach and on the rocky shore platforms. If you want to explore the bay, time your visit for low tide. Foot access over the boulders can be tricky, so take care.
Boating
Cruise slowly in this area, where Hector's dolphins are frequent summer visitors and fur seals haul out on the shore platforms. Boats should slow to less than 5 knots, and stay at least 50 metres away from seals or dolphins.
Diving and snorkelling
Although the water is cold, getting into it is one way to appreciate the reserve. With a wetsuit, mask and snorkel you can explore the rocks around the shore, while scuba gear will allow you to dive further out. A variety of fish such as triplefins, lumpfish, moki, butterfish/mararī, spotties, banded wrasse, blue cod/kopukopu, leather jackets/kōkiri, crayfish/kōura, paua and rockfish/taumaka can be found.
Guided activities and tours