| French Bay / Otitori Bay | |
|---|---|
 French Bay / Otitori Bay at low tide | |
  French Bay / Otitori Bay Location within the Auckland Region | |
| Location | Auckland Region, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 36°57′00″S174°40′01″E / 36.95°S 174.667°E |
| Ocean/sea sources | Manukau Harbour |
French Bay / Otitori Bay is a bay in the Auckland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located in Titirangi on the Manukau Harbour, between Wood Bay to the north and Paturoa Bay to the south.
The bay was traditionally called Opou by Tāmaki Māori, literally meaning "the place of posts". The bay became known as French Bay in the 1920s, however the reason for this is unknown. [1] In the early 20th century, the bay became a popular destination for Aucklanders, undertaking day trips. [2] Painter Colin McCahon lived close to French Bay from 1953 to 1960, [3] and many of his works depict the bay. [4] McCahon's home later became McCahon House, a museum and gallery space. [3]
The beach has variable water quality, [5] and in 2020 was listed as one of the 10 least safe beaches for swimming in the Auckland Region. [6]
The French Bay Yacht Club is located on the beach. [7] The yacht club facilities were severely damaged during the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods. [8] [9]
Gisborne is a city in northeastern New Zealand and the largest settlement in the Gisborne District. It has a population of 38,800. Gisborne District Council has its headquarters in the central city.
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Titirangi is a suburb of West Auckland in the Waitākere Ranges local board area of the city of Auckland in northern New Zealand. It is an affluent, residential suburb located 13 km (8.1 mi) to the southwest of the Auckland city centre, at the southern end of the Waitākere Ranges. In the Māori language "Titirangi" means "hill reaching up to the sky".
The Waitākere Ranges is a mountain range in New Zealand. Located in West Auckland between metropolitan Auckland and the Tasman Sea, the ranges and its foothills and coasts comprise some 27,720 hectares of public and private land. The area, traditionally known to Māori as Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa, is of local, regional, and national significance. The Waitākere Ranges includes a chain of hills in the Auckland Region, generally running approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) from north to south, 25 km west of central Auckland. The ranges are part of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park.
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