Cape Turnagain

Cape Turnagain

Cape Turnagain is a prominent headland on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, part way between Hawke Bay and Cook Strait, between the mouths of the Porangahau and Akitio Rivers.^[1]

The cape was named by Captain James Cook in 1769. On his journey of discovery, he sailed south to this point before deciding to turn and head north around New Zealand, and named the point as a result of his decision.

Cape Turnagain is 650 kilometres (400 mi) north-west of Chatham Island, making it the nearest point of mainland New Zealand from Chatham Island.

There is another Cape Turnagain or Point Turnagain on the Kent Peninsula in Arctic Canada.

References

1. "Place Name Detail: Cape Turnagain". New Zealand Geographic Placenames Database. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 2010-03-25.

Coordinates: 40°29′30″S 176°37′02″E / 40.4916°S 176.6173°E