Mercury Bay
Encyclopedia
Mercury Bay is a large V-shaped bay on the eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula
on the North Island of New Zealand
. This bay was named by the English navigator Captain James Cook during his exploratory expeditions. By the Māori it was named Te-Whanganui-o-Hei, the great bay of Hei.
On November 9, 1769, Cook landed on the shores of this bay to observe a Transit of Mercury
. In 1919, an area of land around Shakespeare Cliff was set aside, and a small memorial was constructed, based on the erroneous notion that it was the location of Cook's observations. But the actual site of Cook's landing and observation was the eastern end of Cook's Beach, near the Purangi estuary. A smaller memorial plinth
was established there also..
The mouth of Mercury Bay is ten kilometers across, and its coastline extends some 20 km. On the shore of this bay is the resort town of Whitianga
, and a natural harbor is formed by an arm of the bay which extends inland a further six kilometers southward. Several small islets are located at the southern and northern extremities of the bay, and the Mercury Islands
are 10 km to the north.
Named locations along Mercury Bay include Buffalo Beach, Ferry Landing, Shakespeare Cliff, Lonely Bay, Flaxmill Bay, Cooks Beach, Purangi Estuary, Cathedral Cove, Hahei, and Hot Water Beach.
Mercury Bay is a good location for game fishing, with fish such as the marlin
living there. This is partly due to the nearby presence of the Te Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove)
marine reserve: fish may not be caught there, but the plentiful fish in this marine reserve leads to fish straying outside the reserve and good catches outside of it.
The bay is also widely known for its yachting
. The Mercury Bay Yacht Club was the challenging club in New Zealand's first challenge for the America's Cup
, in 1988.
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula lies in the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Waikato Region and Thames-Coromandel District and extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the west...
on the North Island of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. This bay was named by the English navigator Captain James Cook during his exploratory expeditions. By the Māori it was named Te-Whanganui-o-Hei, the great bay of Hei.
On November 9, 1769, Cook landed on the shores of this bay to observe a Transit of Mercury
Transit of Mercury
A transit of Mercury across the Sun takes place when the planet Mercury comes between the Sun and the Earth, and Mercury is seen as a small black dot moving across the face of the Sun....
. In 1919, an area of land around Shakespeare Cliff was set aside, and a small memorial was constructed, based on the erroneous notion that it was the location of Cook's observations. But the actual site of Cook's landing and observation was the eastern end of Cook's Beach, near the Purangi estuary. A smaller memorial plinth
Plinth
In architecture, a plinth is the base or platform upon which a column, pedestal, statue, monument or structure rests. Gottfried Semper's The Four Elements of Architecture posited that the plinth, the hearth, the roof, and the wall make up all of architectural theory. The plinth usually rests...
was established there also..
The mouth of Mercury Bay is ten kilometers across, and its coastline extends some 20 km. On the shore of this bay is the resort town of Whitianga
Whitianga
Whitianga is the main settlement of Mercury Bay on the North Island of New Zealand. The population was 3768 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 690 from 2001. The population is now 4100 an increase of 332 since 2006.-Social:...
, and a natural harbor is formed by an arm of the bay which extends inland a further six kilometers southward. Several small islets are located at the southern and northern extremities of the bay, and the Mercury Islands
Mercury Islands
The Mercury Islands lie off the northeast coast of New Zealand's North Island. They are located off the coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, and northeast of the town of Whitianga....
are 10 km to the north.
Named locations along Mercury Bay include Buffalo Beach, Ferry Landing, Shakespeare Cliff, Lonely Bay, Flaxmill Bay, Cooks Beach, Purangi Estuary, Cathedral Cove, Hahei, and Hot Water Beach.
Mercury Bay is a good location for game fishing, with fish such as the marlin
Marlin
Marlin, family Istiophoridae, are fish with an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long rigid dorsal fin, which extends forward to form a crest. Its common name is thought to derive from its resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike...
living there. This is partly due to the nearby presence of the Te Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove)
Te Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove)
Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve is a marine reserve on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand.Cathedral Cove is named after the cave located there linking Mare’s Leg Cove to Cathedral Cove. Gemstone Bay and Stingray Bay are also located within the reserve...
marine reserve: fish may not be caught there, but the plentiful fish in this marine reserve leads to fish straying outside the reserve and good catches outside of it.
The bay is also widely known for its yachting
Yachting
Yachting refers to recreational sailing or boating, the specific act of sailing or using other water vessels for sporting purposes.-Competitive sailing:...
. The Mercury Bay Yacht Club was the challenging club in New Zealand's first challenge for the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
, in 1988.