Princess Bay facts for kids
Princess Bay is a beautiful beach located on the southern coast of Wellington, New Zealand. It's a favorite spot for people who love the ocean, especially surfers and divers.
Where is Princess Bay?
Princess Bay is found between two other places called Houghton Bay and Te Raekaihau Point. It sits right on the rocky edge of the Cook Strait, which is a famous body of water that separates New Zealand's North and South Islands. The beach itself stretches along the edge of Houghton Bay.
What's Princess Bay Like?
Princess Bay is part of the Southern Headlands Reserve, a protected area. Like other parts of Wellington's South Coast, it's a popular place for fun activities like diving and fishing.
In 2005, a large ship called the F69 Frigate Wellington was no longer needed by the navy. It was carefully sunk near Houghton Bay. Now, this ship acts like an amazing underwater home for sea creatures, creating an artificial reef that divers love to explore! Princess Bay has also been a long-time favorite for local surfers, and it's a smaller version of its nearby neighbors, Houghton Bay and Lyall Bay.
Seeing the Aurora Australis
You might be able to see the amazing Aurora Australis from Princess Bay! The Aurora Australis is also known as the Southern Lights, and it's a beautiful natural light show in the sky.
It's easier to see the Southern Lights here because the hills along the coastline help block some of the "light pollution." Light pollution is the extra light from cities that makes the night sky brighter and harder to see stars or auroras. Most auroras at this part of the world are quite faint, so a dark sky is really important to be able to see them with your own eyes.
