[1][2] The inlet and reserve are located in the Tasman District west of the road between Golden Bay and Farewell Spit, and north-west of Nelson.

[1] Within the boundary of the marine reserve, seagrass beds, salt marshes, tidal wetlands, dunes, cliffs, islands, rock platforms and underwater reefs provide habits for a range of species.

[1] European settlers felled and logged the coastal forest, milled flax, and mined the land for coal and gold.

Some birds find their food in the inlet but live in the forest or wetland, including kingfisher and banded rail.

[1] People must not feed fish as it disturbs their natural behaviour, and they must take care when anchoring to avoid damaging the sea floor.