Blueskin Bay facts for kids
Blueskin Bay is a beautiful estuary located on the coast of Otago, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Dunedin, New Zealand. An estuary is a special place where a river meets the sea, mixing fresh and salt water.
The name "Blueskin Bay" also informally refers to the nearby rural area. This area includes the slopes of Mount Cargill and The Kilmog, as well as small towns like Doctors Point, Waitati, Evansdale, Warrington, and Seacliff.
What's in a Name?
The tidal lagoon of Blueskin Bay has a special Māori name: Waiputai.
The name "Blueskin Bay" used to describe a larger part of the coast. It stretched from Heyward Point all the way to Seacliff, including a place called Pūrākaunui.
The name Blueskin comes from a local Māori person named Kahuti. Early European settlers, called Pakeha settlers, gave him the nickname "Blueskin." This was because he had a lot of Tā moko, which is traditional Māori tattooing, on his body. The dark patterns of the tattoos made his skin appear bluish. Interestingly, this nickname was also used for a well-known criminal in London during the 1700s, named Joseph "Blueskin" Blake.
Exploring the Estuary
Two rivers flow into Blueskin Bay: the Waitati River and Careys Creek. The Waitati River enters the bay in the southwest, and Careys Creek joins in the northwest.
A long sand spit, which is a narrow piece of land made of sand, stretches from the northern side of the bay. This spit almost closes off the bay, leaving only a small channel open to the Pacific Ocean in the southeast corner. Just inside this entrance is Rabbit Island.
Blueskin Bay is also home to some very special animals. Critically endangered Hector's dolphins live in the waters around the bay. These dolphins are one of the smallest and rarest marine dolphins in the world, and they are found only in New Zealand.
Shellfish Treasures
Blueskin Bay is a popular spot for gathering clams, which are often called "cockles" by local people. Many families enjoy coming to the bay to collect these shellfish for their own meals.
Besides families, a company called Southern Clams Ltd also collects clams from Blueskin Bay. They gather these shellfish for commercial purposes, meaning they sell them to other places, often for export to different countries.
