Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve

{{Short description|Nature reserve in Western Australia}}

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date= March 2015}}

{{Infobox Australian place

| type = protected

| name = Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve

| state = wa

| iucn_category = ia

| image = Goose Island & Pink Lake Middle Island Recherche Archipelago NR IV-2011.JPG

| caption = Goose Island, Lake Hillier Middle Island and Miles Island (April 2011)

| image_alt =

| local_map = yes

| zoom = 9

| coordinates = {{coord|34|6|1.7994|S|123|11|16.0794|E|display=inline,title}}

| force_national_map =

| relief = yes

| pushpin_map_caption =

| pushpin_label_position = top

| map_alt =

| nearest_town_or_city = Esperance

| area = 71.45

| area_footnotes =

| established = 21 May 1948

| established_footnotes =

| visitation_num = "low"

| visitation_year = 2012

| visitation_footnotes =

| managing_authorities = Department of Parks and Wildlife

| url =

}}

Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve is a protected area located in the Recherche Archipelago off the south coast of Western Australia. It consists of at least 104 islands and at least 1,200 obstacles to shipping (reefs, islets and rocks) and covers an area of sea extending {{convert|230|km|abbr=off}} from east to west and up to a distance of {{convert|50|km|abbr=off}} from the coast of the Australian continent. As of 2012, visitor access is limited to Middle Island within the nature reserve and is only available via a licensed tour operator. The nature reserve is classified as an IUCN Category Ia protected area.{{cite web|title= Terrestrial Protected Areas of Western Australia (see 'DETAIL' tab)|url= http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/d00ca066-1c8c-412a-9e16-2a37647454a7/files/capad2014wa.xlsx |work=CAPAD 2014|publisher=Australian Government - Department of the Environment|accessdate=4 March 2015|date=2014}}{{cite book|title=Esperance and Recherche parks and reserves draft management plan 2012|date=October 2012|publisher=Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia|pages=2, 64, 68 & 75|url=http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/parks/management-plans/decarchive/20110559-esperancerecherche-dmp_web.pdf|accessdate=1 March 2015}}