Gore Bay, New Zealand facts for kids

Houses in Gore Bay

1874 watercolour painting, with Mrs Robinson's cottage behind the cabbage tree

Gore Bay is a small coastal town located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Cheviot, New Zealand. It's a popular spot known for its beautiful surfing beach. Many people visit Gore Bay, especially during summer, to stay in the beach houses. While only about 14 people live there all year round, the town gets very busy with visitors.

Gore Bay has two camping grounds right by the beach, which are great for holidays. It's also a favorite place for people to celebrate New Year's Eve. One of the most interesting natural features here is Cathedral Gully. It's a stunning canyon made of clay that has been shaped by weather over many years.

A special old house in Gore Bay is the cottage at 60 Moody Street. This house once belonged to Mrs. Eliza Robinson. Her husband, William 'Ready Money' Robinson, was a local 'runholder'. This means he managed a large sheep or cattle farm. The cottage is now protected by Heritage New Zealand as a Category II structure, meaning it's an important historical building.

What's in a Name?

The local Māori name for this area is Pāua pirau. This name means decayed pāua, which refers to a type of edible sea snail with a colorful shell.

The name Gore Bay isn't an official name on maps today. However, it's a name that has been used for a long time. It probably came from Gore's Bay. This name appeared on Captain Cook's map of New Zealand. On his map, Gore's Bay was shown as the bay between Banks Island and the South Island, which he called T’avai Poenammoo.

Gore Bay's Weather

Gore Bay has a mild climate. Here's a quick look at the average rainfall each month: