Mercury Bay 1178027 123047933 2007-04-15T19:25:11Z SmackBot 433328 Date/fix the maintenance tags {{Unreferenced|date=April 2007}} '''Mercury Bay''' is a large V-shaped bay on the eastern ([[Pacific Ocean]]) coast of the [[Coromandel Peninsula]] in [[New Zealand]]. The bay's mouth is ten kilometres in width, and its rugged coastline covers some 20 km. The central point of the bay is occupied by the small town of [[Whitianga]], and a natural harbour is formed by an arm of the bay which extends inland for a further six km. Several small islets are located at the southern and northern extremities of the bay, and the [[Mercury Islands]] are 10 km to the north. The bay's waters are highly regarded for [[game fishing]], and fish such as [[marlin]] can be found in the region. The bay is also widely known for its [[yachting]]. The Mercury Bay Yacht Club was the challenging club in New Zealand's first challenge for the [[America's Cup]], in [[1988]]. At the eastern end of Cook's Beach is a small [[plinth]] in memory of [[Captain James Cook]]'s landing and observation of the [[transit of Mercury]]. ==External links== * [http://www.whitianga.co.nz/mercurybay.html Visitor Information] {{coor title dm|36|47|S|175|48|E|region:NZ_type:waterbody}} [[Category:Bays of New Zealand]] [[Category:Thames-Coromandel]] {{Waikato-geo-stub}}