Cook Strait
Cook Strait is the narrow sea passage separating New Zealand’s North and South Islands and connecting the Tasman Sea with the South Pacific Ocean.
Cook Strait Ferry: A passenger and vehicle ferry service crossing Cook Strait between New Zealand’s North and South Islands. Ferries connect the islands across the strait’s exposed, often rough waters.
James Cook: A British naval officer and explorer whose Pacific voyages mapped coastlines and claimed territory for Britain. The strait bears Cook’s name, though he did not discover it.
Interislander: A New Zealand ferry operator carrying passengers, vehicles, and freight between Wellington and Picton. Its ferries provide a major transport link across Cook Strait.
Wahine disaster: The 1968 sinking of the ferry Wahine in Wellington Harbour during a severe storm, killing 53 people. The disaster exposed the dangers of weather and sea conditions near the strait.
Tasman Sea: A marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean lying between Australia and New Zealand. The Tasman Sea meets Cook Strait on its western side.
Cook Strait current: The tidal and residual water flows through Cook Strait, shaped by tides, winds, and surrounding ocean circulation. Strong, variable currents complicate navigation through the passage.
Abel Tasman: A Dutch navigator who led the first recorded European expedition to reach New Zealand in 1642. Tasman’s voyage preceded Cook’s exploration of New Zealand’s coasts.
Bluebridge: A New Zealand ferry operator running passenger and freight services between Wellington and Picton. It is another regular ferry service across the strait.
MV Kaitawa: A New Zealand coastal cargo ship that sank in Cook Strait in 1966, with the loss of all 29 crew. Its loss is one of the strait’s deadliest maritime disasters.
South Pacific Ocean: The southern portion of the Pacific Ocean, extending from the equator toward Antarctica. Cook Strait opens eastward into the South Pacific Ocean.