Pohatu Marine Reserve at Flea Bay protects a wild pocket of Banks Peninsula coastline beyond Akaroa. The steep road in, the enclosed bay, and the sense of being tucked behind the harbour make it feel much more remote than the distance suggests.
The reserve is best known for marine life and penguin conservation, but the landscape is the first thing you notice: cliffs, clear water, and volcanic hills dropping into the bay. Go with care, allow time for the road, and treat it as a nature outing rather than a quick lookout stop.