Rakituma / Preservation Inlet is the southernmost fiord within Fiordland National Park, a complex coastal inlet system opening to the Tasman Sea. It is a remote and exposed marine environment, characterized by a main body connected to the sea by two passages separated by Coal Island. The northern passage is the main entry, approximately 1.67 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, while Otago Retreat to the south of Coal Island is narrower, with a minimum width of just 375 metres. The fiord's geography includes numerous islands such as Coal Island, Only Islands, and Cording Islands, and features several sub-basins including Te Awaroa / Long Sound, Useless Bay, Revolver Bay, Isthmus Sound, and Otago Retreat. The overall area of the inlet is 93 square kilometres. Paddling here is a wilderness experience with minimal infrastructure; there are no described dedicated launch facilities or amenities for paddlers. Access is typically via boat or ship, and the area is noted for having a relatively low level of human activity compared to other Fiordland sounds. The environment is ecologically sensitive, with specific protections in place. Notably, "The Narrows" within Te Awaroa / Long Sound is designated as a "china shop" habitat, an area with delicate black coral and sea pen communities where anchoring and lobster potting are restricted to prevent damage. General guidelines for Fiordland advise paddlers to exercise caution around marine life, as corals are protected species and should not be touched. The area is also within the known range of a southern subpopulation of bottlenose dolphins, though no specific vessel interaction rules for paddlers are detailed for this inlet. The historical significance of the area includes early 19th-century shore whaling at Port Bunn and a brief 19th-century settlement attempt at Cromarty.