Location: South coast, Moa Point Road
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Suitable for: Launching boats, diving, snorkelling, exploring rock pools
Brief description: Sheltered Tarakena Bay has a boat launching ramp, and seats where you can spend time admiring the ocean view. Little blue penguin live in the area, and the community is helping to restore their habitats and provide safe nesting areas along this coast.
Parking: Car parks at boat launching ramp and beside Rangitatau Reserve entrance
Toilets and changing facilities: None
Accessibility: Short walk from car park
Dogs: Dogs not allowed at any time on the coastal walkway from Tarakena Bay to Moa Point as it is a penguin nesting area.
Features: The bay is at the foot of Rangitatau Reserve and Ataturk Memorial Park, and is at the end of the Eastern Walkway. Wahine Memorial Park is on the foreshore at nearby Palmer Head facing Barrett Reef, which the interisland ferry Wahine struck in 1968. A memorial plaque can be found in the park near a propeller salvaged from the Wahine.
History: The bay was favoured by Māori as the best canoe landing spot for some distance, and there are two pa sites on the western headland. A pilot station was established near here in the 1840s.
Friends groups: Breaker Bay Progressive Association, Forest and Bird Places for Penguins