{{Short description|Bay in Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Torrent Bay | native_name ={{native name|mi|Rākauroa}} | image = Torrent_Bay_from_the_Abel_Tasman_Coast_Track.jpg | caption = Torrent Bay beach and holiday houses | alt = Torrent Bay beach and holiday houses | location = [[Abel Tasman National Park]], [[New Zealand]] | coordinates = {{coord|-40.947|173.053|display=title|region:NZ_type:waterbody_source:GNS-enwiki}} | agency = [[New Zealand Department of Conservation|Department of Conservation]] | pushpin_map = New Zealand | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Rākauroa }}
'''Rākauroa '''/''' Torrent Bay''' is a bay in [[Abel Tasman National Park]], New Zealand.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Torrent Bay Village Campsite|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/abel-tasman-national-park/things-to-do/campsites/torrent-bay-village-campsite/|access-date=3 July 2020|website=www.doc.govt.nz|language=en-nz}}</ref>
== History == Torrent Bay was named by French explorer [[Dumont D'Urville]] during his exploration and mapping of this area of New Zealand in 1827.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CHAPTER XXVI. — Discovery of the French Pass, 1827 {{!}} NZETC|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-McNMuri-t1-body-d1-d26.html|access-date=30 June 2020|website=nzetc.victoria.ac.nz}}</ref> The area was surveyed as a village in the 1920s. When Abel Tasman National Park was formed in 1942, the village was not included in the Park, so remains as a village of holiday houses on privately owned land within the National Park.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Simpson|first=Philip|title=Down the Bay: a natural and cultural history of Abel Tasman National Park|publisher=Potton & Burton|year=2018|isbn=978 0 947503 93 2|location=Nelson|pages=228, 260, 267}}</ref> As part of the [[Motueka]] Ward of the Tasman District Council, land is of freehold title and can be onsold and built on, within strict building codes and resource consents. There is no road access, and no electricity but water is supplied to most properties. There is a small camping area but most accommodation is in private holiday homes. There is one [https://web.archive.org/web/20110724191640/http://www.abeltasman.co.nz/Accommodation/TorrentBayLodge.aspx Lodge] operated as accommodation for walkers and kayakers on commercial trips with Wilsons Abel Tasman.<ref name=":1" /> Access to Torrent Bay is through a walking track from Marahau, or by boat from one of the many water taxi services operating in the area.<ref name=":0" /> Kayak tours are also available.<ref name=":1" />
The bay is fed by the waters of the short [[Torrent River]] and the smaller Tregidga Creek.<ref name=":1" />
In August 2014, the name of the bay was officially altered to Rākauroa / Torrent Bay.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.linz.govt.nz/regulatory/place-names/recent-place-name-decisions-and-place-names-interest/nzgb-decisions-august |title=NZGB decisions |date=August 2014 |publisher=Land Information New Zealand |accessdate=7 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121203027/http://www.linz.govt.nz/regulatory/place-names/recent-place-name-decisions-and-place-names-interest/nzgb-decisions-august |archivedate=21 November 2015 }}</ref>
The New Zealand [[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]] gives a translation of "tall trees" for {{lang|mi|Rākauroa}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/1000-maori-place-names|title=1000 Māori place names|publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage|date=6 August 2019}}</ref>
== Gallery == {{Gallery |title = |height= 150 |align = center |File:NZ310315 Abel Tasman Torrent Bay 03.jpg|alt1=Torrent Bay Beach |Ballon Rock |File:Torrent Bay (2).jpg|alt2= Torrent Bay Estuary | Torrent Bay Estuary |File:RakauroaTorrentBayDec012024 04.jpg|The Torrent Bay estuary in low tide |File:RakauroaTorrentBayDec012024 03.jpg|The Torrent Bay and the Ballon Rock }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Abel Tasman National Park}} {{Tasman District}}
[[Category:Bays of the Tasman District]] [[Category:Beaches of the Tasman District]] [[Category:Populated places around Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere]] [[Category:Tasman Bay]] [[Category:Abel Tasman National Park]]