Bream Bay is a locality and bay on the east coast of New Zealand. Captain James Cook named this area to include the bay itself, but also some surrounding locations, stretching north to Whangarei and south to Mangawhai. However, 'Bream Bay' is loosely used as a collaboration of the three major towns that satellite the main metropolitan area which are Ruakaka, One Tree Point and Waipu. The physical bay itself geographically spreads from the mouth of Whangarei Harbour (Bream Head), 22 kilometers south, to the southernmost point of Waipu Cove (Bream Tail). The area also inhabits 3 native reserve islands, located just off the coast of Bream Bay: the Hen and Chickens Islands and Sail Rock Island.

Geography

Naming

Bream Bay was named by Captain James Cook after noticing that the bay's waters were populated with a vast number of bream, although it is now thought he was mistaken with snapper. He also named, in the same vein, Bream Head and Bream Tail which are the areas at the very top and bottom of the bay itself.