Elaine Bay facts for kids

Elaine Bay is a beautiful bay located in Pelorus Sound, which is part of the Marlborough Sounds in New Zealand's South Island. It's a peaceful spot within a branch of Pelorus Sound called Tawhitinui Reach. Other bays nearby include Tennyson Inlet. You can reach Elaine Bay by a road that connects to the main Croisilles-French Pass Road.

Fun Things to Do in Elaine Bay

Elaine Bay is a great place for outdoor adventures!

Camping and Swimming

There is a Department of Conservation campsite right by the water. The beach in Elaine Bay has mostly rocks and some small areas of gravel. Even so, it's a popular spot for swimming. You'll find several wharfs and a swimming platform, which are kept in good shape by a local company.

Walking Tracks

You can explore the area on two walking tracks:

• The Piwakawaka Track is an easy walk that takes about an hour and a half to complete. It leads to the next bay, which has a lovely golden beach. This beach is perfect for picnics and swimming.
• The Archer Track is a longer walk, taking about four hours to complete. This wide, well-used track connects Elaine Bay to Penzance Bay. Along the way, you'll see amazing views of the natural scenery.

Kayaking and Boating

If you love being on the water, you can rent sea kayaks right in the bay. There's also a boat ramp, places to moor boats, and a small dock. These make it easy to get out on the water and explore the sound.

Wildlife in Elaine Bay

Elaine Bay has many streams flowing into it, which creates a very rich and lively ecosystem. This means there are lots of different plants and animals living here.

Fish and Birds

You can find large groups of fish like herrings, kahawai, and mackerel. There are also many birds, including cormorants (also known as shags) and weka. This wide variety of wildlife makes Elaine Bay a great place for fishing.

Industries in Elaine Bay

Elaine Bay has a small port that is used for fishing and aquaculture. Aquaculture is like farming, but for sea creatures.

Mussel Farming

Many smaller fishing boats and large mussel boats regularly use the port. The main product here is green-lipped mussels. Pelorus Sound and its main port, Havelock, are famous for these mussels. Many mussel farms are located in the bays around Elaine Bay. These farms provide many jobs for people in the area.

Forestry

There is also a small forestry industry in Elaine Bay. Since the 1970s, some areas of Pelorus Sound have been planted with pine trees. These trees are grown for timber. The Archer Track, one of the walking paths, goes through some of these planted forests.

How to Get to Elaine Bay

You can get to Elaine Bay by taking the Elaine Bay Road. This road turns off from the Croisilles-French Pass Road. The turn-off is just north of Rai Valley and connects to State Highway 6 (State Highway 6). The road to Elaine Bay is paved all the way. This is because large trucks regularly use it to reach the port.

Living in Elaine Bay

Apart from a few people who live there all the time, the homes in Elaine Bay are mostly baches. Baches are small holiday homes where people go to relax and enjoy their vacations.