The marine reserve was established in 2014 and is 853 hectares. Its purpose is to protect representative marine habitats and animals of the southern West Coast.
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Hautai Marine Reserve begins just south of Longridge Point on the West Coast of the South Island and extends about 6 km south to the Hacket River Mouth, and more than 1 km out to sea (8.5 square km in total). It is halfway between Jackson Bay and Milford Sound, 60 km from any road.
Independent walkers should be well prepared for the exposed nature of this marine reserve. Ensure you take:
- plenty of warm, weather-proof clothing
- a good tent,
- adequate food and water.
Several creeks flow into the reserve.
Stones (no more than 256 mm in intermediate diameter), shells, driftwood, sand and gravel can be collected by hand recreationally, but only as much as you can carry in one trip and with minimal disturbance to the site
Pounamu can also be collected but only by members of Ngāi Tahu Whanui, or with the permission of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
Hautai Marine Reserve lies alongside Te Wāhipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.
Underwater canyons a few kilometres offshore provide food for marine mammals and birds, particularly kekeno/NZ fur seals, tawaki/Fiordland crested penguins, and blue penguins, which are abundant here.
The shore is dominated by a mixture of boulder and bedrock reefs, and beaches of coarse sand and gravel.
The beaches rise in a sweeping gesture to steep and forested coastline, blown to a uniform curl by the prevailing wind.
Protect our marine reserves
- No fishing of any kind.
- Don't take or kill marine life.
- Don't remove or disturb any marine life or materials.
- Don't feed fish - it disturbs their natural behaviour.
- Take care when anchoring to avoid damaging the sea floor.
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| Phone: | 0800 275 362 |
| Email: | info@doc.govt.nz |