Cook Strait

Cook Strait (Māori: Te Moana-o-Raukawa) is the body of water between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It connects the Tasman Sea on the west with the South Pacific Ocean on the east.

Cook Strait
Basin countries	New Zealand
Min. width	22 km (14 mi)
Average depth	128 m (420 ft)

The strait is named after James Cook, who was the first European commander to sail through it. Its Māori name is Te Moana-o-Raukawa. The strait has an average depth of 128 metres (420 ft). The strait can be dangerous and unpredictable, because of the tide patterns and the weather. The most common way to get across is by ferry.

Cook Strait Media

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  en:Pelorus Jack, a famous en:Risso's Dolphin from en:New Zealand. From Pelorus Jack: the White Dolphin of French Pass, New Zealand by J Cowan, 1911 (photo taken by Capt. C. F. Post, of the N.Z. Govt. SS Tutanekai).

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  Wellington's south coast, seen from Island Bay

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

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  Historical ocean sampling locations within Cook Strait, New Zealand.

• Global surface elevation of the M2 ocean tide (NASA). This computer animation shows the peaks and troughs of the M2 tides sweeping anticlockwise around New Zealand. When it is high tide on one side of Cook Strait, it is low tide on the other side. For this reason, the strait can experience exceptionally fast tidal flows.

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  Cook Strait ferries in Wellington Harbour

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  Track of a swimmer's path crossing Cook Strait in 1972