The Earth is currently undergoing the sixth mass extinction, termed the Anthropocene era, witnessing widespread damage, fragmentation, and loss of marine habitats. Marine ecosystem restoration, a burgeoning field of science, aims to halt and reverse degradation, enhance ecosystem services, and restore biodiversity. Successful restoration initiatives must address crucial questions concerning threat management, best practises, and future proofing strategies. Here we evaluate the successes and challenges of large-scale active restoration efforts focused on critically endangered giant kelp forests (Macrocystis pyrifera) and native flat oyster reefs (Ostrea angasi) and lost seagrass (Zostera mulleri) in Tasmania. Our findings show all three projects have successfully developed methods to rehabilitate these habitats at different scales in the short-term and some of their associated ecosystem services. Nevertheless, persistent challenges in the management of these restored ecosystems underscore the need for ongoing intervention and adaptive management practises to ensure their long-term sustainability in the face of intensifying environmental pressures.