Molyneux Bay

Molyneux Bay
Looking north from Kaka Point across Molyneux Bay
Molyneux Bay
Location	Clutha District, Otago, New Zealand
Coordinates	46°22′S 169°48′E
Etymology	Named after Robert Molyneux, sailing master on HMS Endeavour[1]
Part of	Pacific Ocean
River sources	Clutha River / Mata-Au (Koau and Matau Rivers), Pūerua River
Max. width	12 kilometres (7.5 mi)
Settlements	Kaka Point, Port Molyneux

Molyneux Bay is a bay on the south east coast of the South Island in the Otago Region of New Zealand. The bay is the location of the mouth of the Clutha River / Mata-Au and the estuarial river island of Inch Clutha. It stretches for some 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) and is bounded in the northeast by a small promontory close to Summer Hill and in the southwest by the headland of Kaka Point.

Naming

The name of the bay first appears on James Cook's charts mapped during his first voyage. It was named after Robert Molyneux (or Molineux), the sailing master of HMS Endeavour, who died on the return voyage to England.[2]

History

The former settlement of Port Molyneux stood on the shore of Molyneux Bay until a major flood altered the course of the river, making the port unviable.

References

1. "Place name detail: Molyneux Bay". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
2. Reed, Alexander Wyclif; Dowling, Peter (2010). Place Names of New Zealand (3rd ed.). Raupo, 2010. ISBN 9780143204107.