Towns

Bream Bay was named by Captain Cook in 1769, christened for the abundant fish that flashed beneath the waters. There is, however, debate over the accuracy of this name – when is a bream not a bream but a snapper?

Fishy tale aside, with the regions becoming an increasingly enticing alternative to big-city living, this quiet part of the country is on the up and up – locals frequently mention that the placid days of winter are a thing of the past, with cafés and shops more steadily busy than ever before.

There are several residential settlements: One Tree Point, Marsden Cove, Ruakaka,

Waipu, Waipu Cove and Langs Beach. This is a region of economic growth, especially around the manmade canals of Marsden Cove, where new developments seem to appear at the blink of an eye.