Meretoto / Ship Cove
< Meretoto
| Meretoto / Ship Cove | |
|---|---|
View across the sound to Motuara Island from Ship Cove in 2004 | |
| Location | Marlborough Sounds |
| Coordinates | 41°05′35″S 174°14′20″E / 41.09306°S 174.23889°E |
| Etymology | Named for the location where James Cook anchored his ship. 'Meretoto' has unclear origins |
Meretoto / Ship Cove is a small bay in the Marlborough Sounds in New Zealand. It is located near the entrance of Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui, west of nearby Motuara Island and Long Island.
Explorer James Cook anchored his ships here and hence named it Ship Cove; however, in 2014 the official name was altered to "Meretoto / Ship Cove", to reflect its original Māori name. While Ship Cove is a descriptive name, little is known about the origin of the name Meretoto. One possible translation is "bloody mere".
The site is a Category 1 listed historic place and is managed by the Department of Conservation.