Discovering Wairau Bar
Located at the southeast end of Cloudy Bay in Marlborough, this area is not your typical tourist destination. However, the Wairau Bar marks the north side of the Wairau River mouth, and the SS Kennedy shipwreck lies nearby. The region's remote and wild nature makes it a unique spot to explore.
In early European times, entry to the river was vital to support the development of Blenheim and the Wairau Valley. This was inherently dangerous, but, curiously, the SS Kennedy shipwreck was not due to an accident.
Discovering the SS Kennedy Shipwreck
The SS Kennedy operated from 1864 until 1929 and was intentionally sunk at the Wairau Bar in 1929 to help create a breakwater. This ship replaced the Waverley, which had been similarly sunk in 1928 but was later swept towards the Wairau Lagoons. The remains of the Waverley can be seen along the Wairau Lagoons walk.
A Wild and Windswept Landscape
The southeast end of Cloudy Bay is characterised by its windswept and stony beach, accessible from the Wairau Bar. While the rugged landscape offers a striking view, it is not suitable for swimming, but it is an interesting spot for those seeking solitude and wilder scenery.
How to Get There
To reach Wairau Bar, take State Highway 1 north of Blenheim. Turn sharply right onto Ferry Road at Spring Creek, cross the bridge over the Wairau River, and turn sharply right again onto Wairau Bar Road. Continue until you reach the Wairau Bar. From there, proceed a short distance towards the river mouth to find the SS Kennedy shipwreck on the edge of the bar.
In addition to checking out the Wairau Lagoons on the south side of the river mouth, you can visit the north end of Cloudy Bay at Rārangi and then continue on Port Underwood Road to Pukatea / Whites Beach and the Marborough Sounds.
