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Cook Strait is the strait between the North Island and South Island of New Zealand. It is named after James Cook who was the first European to sail it. On the north side of the strait is the harbour of Wellington. On the south side are the Marlborough Sounds and Cloudy Bay. The two large bays of Golden Bay and Tasman Bay lie on the South Island coast immediately to the west of the strait, whereas the North Island coast to the west recedes towards the giant curve of the Kapiti Coast and South Taranaki Bight. To the east of the strait, it is the south island which recedes, the coast running southwest after reaching the headland of Cape Campbell. The North Island's short south coast stretches along Palliser Bay, terminating in Cape PalliserCape Palliser is a promontory on the southern coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is located at the eastern end of Palliser Bay, 50 kilometres southeast of Wellington. The cape is the southernmost point of the North Islandand is considerably further s.
Each island can clearly be seen from the other in good weather. At its narrowest point, the strait is 24 kilometres wide, this being between Cape Terawhiti in the North Island and Wellington Head on Arapawa IslandArapawa Island is a small island located in the Marlborough Sounds, at the north east tip of the South Island of New Zealand. The island has a land area of 75 km2 (18500 acres). Queen Charlotte Sound defines its western side, while to the south lies Tory in the Marlborough Sounds. Ironically, at this point the South island's coast is the more northerly.
There are daily ferryA ferry is a boat or a ship carrying passengers, and possibly their vehicles, on a relatively short-distance, regularly-scheduled service. Ferries form an important part of the public transport systems of many waterside cities, allowing direct transit bet services between the harbour of PictonPicton is located at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound near the north-east corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The population (2001) is 3,063. It was named after Sir Thomas Picton the military associate of the Duke of Wellington who was killed at t in the sounds and Wellington, however the sea is often rough due to strong winds, especially when the wind is from the south.
Straits
New Zealand coastline
Marlborough, New ZealandMarlborough is one of the regions of New Zealand, located in the northeast of the South Island. Geography Marlborough's geography can be roughly divided into four sections. Two of these sections, in the south and the west, are mountainous. This is particu
Hawke's Bay-Wairarapa
Wellington-Kapiti
