It extends to the southerly limits of the Australian exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean and encompasses the Tasman Fracture.

The reserve includes a number of undersea peaks rising to less than 1,500 m (4,900 ft) below the sea surface that provide habitat to deepwater hard corals.

The reserve is also habitat to many seabirds, seals and cetaceans, such as dolphins and killer whales.

The fauna of this reserve includes subantarctic fishes and seabed invertebrates.

Biodiversity within the reserve is influenced by the most easterly extent of the Zeehan Current.