Anchorages at Auckland Islands for Small Craft

Deas Bay. Southern corner gives good shelter from the westerlies because of height of Dea’s Head. During the approach up Port Ross, Dea’s Head is a distinctive hill with a hook to the south. Bottom is rocky inshore with weed, changing to rocks and shingle and at about 10 metres depth to sand. There is a DOC hut in this corner, unmarked on charts or topo maps. Shore and trees provide a good lee from NW to S. Suggest small craft move close inshore before anchoring and then drop back as westerlies are fairly constant and wind shifts are less of a risk than the strength of the wind.

Terror Cove. While shore height suggests good shelter, it was found that the westerly squalls piped through the bay at full force and the inshore water was shallow preventing a close-in achorage. Although the chart describes this as an anchorage, it is more suited to larger vessels than small ones.

Erebus Cove. A snug anchorage can be obtained to the North of the stream by moving close inshore just to the north of a rocky outcrop. Bottom is rocky and a holding may not be immediate but it is worth persisting. Water in the stream is good but a little brackish. Similar quality water was found in a spring about 60 metres north of the main stream by a small shingle beach immediately south of the rocky outcrop. Erebus Cove is the site of the Hardwick Settlement of 1850 – 1852 and has a graveyard restored by DOC.

Davis Bay. Davis Bay is shallow with a rocky bottom and poor holding although it looks like giving reasonable shelter. It is the original site of Governor Gray’s house but little evidence of that now remains.

An excellent anchorage, probably in all weathers but certainly in westerlies. Inshore the bottom is rocky with fine sand patches further out, very sheltered close to the waterfall which can be seen as soon as Shelter Point is rounded. However depth of 5 metres is necessary to get the sandy bottom. Water is very clear and bottom can be easily seen at 6 metres. Fresh water at the fall is clear and the landing easy.

North Arm – Erlangen Clearing. Shallow and fairly exposed, mud & shell bottom, good holding. The two arms at the head shallow out to nothing. North Arm generally does not give much shelter and wind tends to funnel in the direction of the valley.

Camp Cove. Sheltered from all except East to South. Good holding in vicinity of the stream and provides shelter from the westerlies although not complete protection. If wind gusts exceed 30 knots serious consideration should be given to moving. Fair weather anchorage further into the Cove to the north but it is fairly tight if there is any wind and it may be difficult getting a holding. The Cove shallows out to stony beaches in the north and east but the west and south are steeper to.

Norman Inlet is a wind funnel with no shelter except at the far end where a high steep hill (not particularly evident on the chart but the topographical map shows it well) gives a lee from the westerlies. The holding is good in 8 -12 metres of water: a muddy bottom. Because gusts come from both the north and south valleys, allow room for a full swing. The coastline under the western hill is steep to and rocky. Clear water at two points. The beach at the NE corner is pebbly and in the SE corner the approach has deeper water and is more rocky though there is a small sandy beach: collection is easy at both. It is possible to walk to the west coast from this point but the going is difficult and at least 3 hours one way should be allowed.

A featureless inlet which ends in an attractive bay rich in wildlife. The bay was glassy calm when Norman Inlet had a 20 knot westerly. Beach in the west was pebbly but the coast to north and south was rocky. A stream enters the head of the inlet.

Provides little shelter from the west. Bottom slopes up very gradually so the anchorage is some distance away from the shore. Kelp from about 10 metres depth right across the bay. Good holding: clean anchor so probably sand and rock. Two small sandy beaches, both providing a very good landing and streams with slightly brackish water.

A thoroughly nasty little bay with relatively shallow approach and irregular bottom. Rocky shelves extend offshore in the south and west but less so from the north. Only break is on the northern side which leads to a sandy beach but approach is less than 4 metres depth. Not recommended.

Relatively sheltered from the west by low cliffs and trees. Good holding and very clear water. The bottom consists of rock and sand. Cove is in a "V" shape and leads to a shallow estuary and landing spot. There is a stream but only a trickle. This is the site of a WW II Coast Watchers station and most of the original buildings are still standing (1999).