This report describes a baseline assessment and characterisation of three rocky shore sites undertaken in January 2018; Scorching Bay, Makara and Baring Head. Only the Scorching Bay assessment involved a comprehensive survey approach, whereas the focus of the Lyall Bay and Baring Head surveys was a cursory characterisation of rocky shore biota. Overall, the range of species was typical of “healthy” New Zealand rocky shores across the spectrum of wave exposures at the three sites.

Keywords: Scorching Bay, Makara, Baring Head, rocky shore, invertebrates, intertidal, environmental monitoring