Tennyson Inlet, is the southern arm of Pelorus Sound

Pelorus Sound

Pelorus Sound is the largest of the sounds which make up the Marlborough Sounds at the north of the South Island, New Zealand. The Marlborough Sounds is a system of drowned river valleys, which were formed after the last ice age around 10,000 years ago...

 in the Marlborough Sounds

Marlborough Sounds

The Marlborough Sounds are an extensive network of sea-drowned valleys created by a combination of land subsidence and rising sea levels at the north of the South Island of New Zealand...

. Tennyson Inlet encompasses Duncan Bay to Tawhitinui Reach. This area is about ten kilometers long . Tarakaipa and Tawhitinui Islands are the two largest islands in the inlet. There are three main settlements which are used mostly for recreation

Recreation

Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...

.

Settlements

Tennyson Inlet contains three main settlements. These settlements are Duncan Bay, Penzance Bay

Penzance Bay

Penzance Bay is a popular bay located in Tennyson Inlet, within the Marlborough Sounds. Tennyson Inlet is an arm of Pelorus Sound. The bay is immediately north of Tuna Bay which is accessed by the same road.-Attractions:...

, and Elaine Bay (south to north). The other bays are Te Mako, Ngawhakawhiti, Tuna, Godsiff, Deep, and Tawa bay.

Access

State highway number six (SH6) provides road access to Penzance and Duncan Bay, howmainever Elaine Bay is accessed via Croisilles-French Pass road. Road access to Elaine Bay began in 1957 . Duncan and Penzance Bay could be accessed in 1960 through Opouri Valley, which is the current route. This road was constructed for logging potential in the area .

Attractions

Tennyson Inlet is popular for fishing

Fishing

Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....

 and boating

Boating

Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...

 because the boat ramps being a short distance from Nelson

Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....

 and Blenheim

Blenheim, New Zealand

Blenheim is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough, in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the regional council. It has a population of The area which surrounds the town is well known as a centre of New Zealand's wine industry...

. Duncan Bay is especially popular because it is the closest place to launch a boat in the Marlborough Sounds from Nelson. There are walking tracks along some of the inlet which connect the bays together. The native and undisturbed forest

Forest

A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...

 is also a major attraction for this area. Many baches

Bach (New Zealand)

A bach is a small, often very modest holiday home or beach house. Alternatively called a crib, they are an iconic part of New Zealand history and culture, especially in the middle of the 20th century, where they symbolized the beach holiday lifestyle that was becoming more accessible to the...

, or holiday homes are present in this area, permanent resident numbers are low.