Cook Strait - Geography

Geography

The strait runs in a general north-south direction, with the South Island on the west side and North Island on the east. At its narrowest point, 22 kilometres (14 mi) separate Cape Terawhiti in the North Island from Perano Head on Arapawa Island in the Marlborough Sounds. Perano Head is actually further north than Cape Terawhiti. In good weather one can see clearly across the strait.

The west (South Island) coast runs runs 30 kilometres (19 mi) along Cloudy Bay and past the islands and entrances to the Marlborough Sounds. The east (North Island) coast runs 40 kilometres (25 mi) along Palliser Bay, crosses the entrance to Wellington harbour, past some Wellington suburbs and continues another 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to Makara beach.

The Brothers is a group of tiny islands in Cook Strait off the east coast of Arapawa Island. North Brother island in this small chain is a sanctuary for the rare Brothers Island tuatara, while the largest of the islands is the site of the Brothers Island Lighthouse.

• View from Cape Koamaru of the Brothers Islands with Wellington west coast on the horizon

• International Space Station assembly EVA made during the STS-116 mission, over Cook Strait islands

• Wellington's south coast, seen from Island Bay