Colac Bay facts for kids
Colac Bay / Ōraka is a small and charming town located on the coast of New Zealand. It sits right on a bay that shares its name, facing the Foveaux Strait. You can find it along the Southern Scenic Route, which is a famous road for exploring the South Island. The town is only about 10 minutes away from Riverton, New Zealand.
The town is nestled right along the bay, offering beautiful sandy beaches. It's especially famous for a surf spot called "Trees." This spot is great for surfing because the waves break both to the left and right. The northern part of the bay is usually a safe and fun place for swimming.
Colac Bay / Ōraka has some nice places to visit. There's a cozy cafe, a craft shop, a pub, and a caravan park for campers. It also has a community hall and a Marae, which is a special meeting place for Māori people. A cool statue of a surfer riding a wave stands in the town, and it's a popular spot for visitors to take photos.
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The Name of Colac Bay / Ōraka
The name "Colac" comes from a Māori chief named Korako, who once lived in the area. Early European whalers found it hard to say "Korako," so they pronounced it more like "colic." This led to names like "Kolluck's Bay" and eventually "Colac's Bay."
Today, the town has two official names: Colac Bay and Ōraka. This change happened in 1998 as part of an agreement with the Ngāi Tahu Māori tribe. It helps to honor both the Māori and European history of the area.
Surfing at Colac Bay
If you love surfing, Colac Bay is a great place to visit! The coastline here is perfect for surfing when the tide is in the middle. The waves come from the south and break cleanly at the eastern end of Colac Bay Foreshore Road. These waves create both left and right-hand breaks, which means surfers can go in either direction.
Locals call this popular surf spot "Trees." It's known for its consistent waves and is a favorite among surfers in the region.
Climate and Sea Temperatures
Colac Bay has a climate that is very similar to nearby Invercargill. It's known as an "oceanic climate," which means it's influenced a lot by the ocean. This usually means mild temperatures and rainfall throughout the year.
The sea water around Colac Bay changes temperature throughout the year. It gets warmest in February, reaching about 12–15 °C (54–59 °F). The coldest time for the sea is in August, when the water temperature drops to around 9–11 °C (48–52 °F).
Here's a look at the average sea temperatures each month since 1984:
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 °C (55 °F) | 13 °C (55 °F) | 13 °C (55 °F) | 12 °C (54 °F) | 11 °C (52 °F) | 10 °C (50 °F) | 10 °C (50 °F) | 10 °C (50 °F) | 10 °C (50 °F) | 10 °C (50 °F) | 11 °C (52 °F) | 12 °C (54 °F) |
Local Geography and History
The hills behind Colac Bay are part of the Longwood Range. These hills were very important a long time ago because people used to mine for gold there. Further to the west, people also mined for a type of rock called shale for a short time. During the gold mining days, there was even a large Chinese village called Canton near Orepuki.
Important natural landmarks in the area include Colac Bay Hill, Lake George, Howell's Hills, and the Longwood Range. On clear days, you can look across the Foveaux Strait and see Raratoka Island (also known as Centre Island) and even Stewart Island / Rakiura, New Zealand's third-largest island.
