Cook's Cove

History

Cook's Cove is named after the English explorer, Captain James Cook who arrived in the Tolaga Bay area in 1769. Cook and his crew were circumnavigating New Zealand in their vessel, the Endeavour, and spent some time in Cooks Cove (Opoutama). They dug a well and records kept indicate they were impressed with the Hole-in-the-Wall rock formation, near the cove.

The Tolaga Bay area had already been inhabited by Māori for many centuries. The main iwi (tribe) that lived at the Bay and used Cooks Cove for fishing and gathering other seafood was Te Aitanga a Hauiti.