South Taranaki Bight

General data

Name: South Taranaki Bight
Water system: Pacific Ocean
Water type: Bay
Progression: Tasman sea -> Pacific Ocean -> Planet Earth
Climates: Temperate
Continents: Australia & Oceania
Countries: New Zealand

The South Taranaki Bight is a large bay on the west coast of New Zealand, south of Taranaki, west of the Manawatū, north and west of the western entrance of Cook Strait and north of the South Island. The name is sometimes used for a much smaller bay in South Taranaki, between the mouth of the Kaupokonui Stream directly south of Mount Taranaki and the mouth of the Pātea River.

Approximately 18,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum when sea levels were over 100 m (330 ft) lower than present day levels, the South Taranaki Bight was a coastal plain which connected the North and South Islands, featuring rivers which drained into the Cook Strait (then a harbour) to the south-east. Sea levels began to rise 7,000 years ago, eventually separating the islands and connecting the Cook Strait to the Tasman Sea.

South Taranaki Bight

General data

Tag Your Catch and Win a Twin Power!

Post your catch and get a chance to win the Shimano Twin Power XD 4000 PG!

Tag Your Catch and
Win a Twin Power!