French Bay
Bay near Auckland, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
French Bay, less commonly known as French Bay / Otitori Bay, is a bay in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is located in Titirangi on the Manukau Harbour, between Wood Bay to the north and Paturoa Bay to the south.
| French Bay | |
|---|---|
French Bay at low tide | |
  French Bay Location within the Auckland Region | |
| Location | Auckland Region, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 36.95°S 174.667°E |
Ocean/sea sources | Manukau Harbour |
History
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]
Amenities
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]