Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary

The reserve covers 220 hectares and extends for a distance of 500 metres from the reef edge. The granite reef holds forests of bull kelp and shipwreck remains, as well as a diverse range of invertebrates and more than 20 species of reef fish.

Flora & FaunaThe sanctuary is a resting place for Australian Fur Seals. Where there is enough light, the upper reef is covered in a dense canopy of brown, green and red seaweeds. On one side lies a pink rock garden created by the voracious appetite of the Black Sea-urchin. Large Maori Octopuses, with intense eyes on their human-sized heads, lurk amongst the kelp stalks.

Lower down the reef, walls are covered with filter-feeding animals such as large finger sponges, brilliant red sea-fans, sea tulips, long sinuous sea-whips and carpets of orange anemones. Out of every crevice, pink and blue brittle stars stick their spiny arms out into the water to feed. Green, orange and white feather stars are abundant between rocks.