Tasman Bay

Tasman Bay is a large V-shaped bay at the north end of New Zealand's South Island. Located in the centre of the island's northern coast, it stretches along 120 kilometres (75 miles) of coastline and is 70 kilometres (43 miles) across at its widest point. It is an arm of the Tasman Sea, lying at the western approach to Cook Strait.

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At the bay's western extremity, the land around the bay is rough and densely forested. Separation Point, the westernmost point of the bay, is located in Abel Tasman National Park, and separates Tasman Bay from its smaller neighbout, Golden Bay. To the east, the land is also steep, with the westernmost points of sea-drowned valleys of the Marlborough Sounds. D'Urville Island sits to the northeast of Tasman Bay's easternmost point.

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The land between these two extremes is more gently rolling, and also includes the coastal plains around the mouth of the Waimea River at the bay's southernmost point. Other rivers entering the sea along the coast of the bay include the Riwaka, the Motueka and Serpentine Rivers. The long low form of Rabbit Island is located close to the bay's south coast.

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The fertile land around the centre of the bay's coast is extensively cultivated with such crops as tobacco, hops, and fruit. It is also the most densely populated part of the South Island's north coast, and several towns and the city of Nelson are all located close to the shore. These towns include Motueka, Riwaka, and Richmond.

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South Island: The South Island forms one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. The Maori name for the South Island is Te Wai Pounamu which means "The Greenstone Water" (greenstone being jade)....

Tasman Sea: The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand and is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, discoverer of New Zealand and Tasmania. The British explorer Captain James Cook later extensively ex...

Cook Strait: Cook Strait, the strait between the North Island and the South Island of New Zealand, takes its name from Captain James Cook, the first European commander to sail through it (January - February 1770). On the north side of the strait lies the harbour of Wellington. On the south side are the Marlbor...

Tasman Bay related Images and Photos (experimental)

Abel Tasman is Attacked by Native New Zealanders at Massacre Bay	Bay	Bay Tree	Bay Bridge
Bay Breeze I	Bay Breeze I	Azure Bay	Bay Breeze II
Bay City Rollers	Cruden Bay	Cruden Bay	Cruden Bay