The author of this site supports the protection of our maritime heritage. The following notes are provided as historical references and are not here to aid and abett pillaging of wrecks. Exploring and researching wrecks is fun and you can make contact with a like-minded group of folk at the Maritime Archaeological Association of New Zealand (MAANZ) Inc.
SUBRAON Wooden Barque 26 OCT 1848 CYRUS 3 masted barque 07 MAR 1874 WELLINGTON Full-rigged ship 07 MAR 1874 TUI Iron Steamer 01 NOV 1886 WILLIE MCLAREN Wooden Barque 05 NOV 1889 GRASMERE Barque 25 DEC 1895 HALCIONE Iron Barque 08 JAN 1896 NAMBUCCA Wooden Steamer 16 JAN 1905 EMMA SIMS Auxiliary ketch 18 MAY 1907 WOOLLAHRA Iron Barque 14 JUL 1907 PENGUIN Iron screw steamer 12 FEB 1909 DEVON Steel Steamer 25 AUG 1913 DEFENDER Wooden Steamer 02 AUG 1918 MAGIC Auxiliary Schooner 26 MAR 1921 PROGRESS Iron steamer 01 MAY 1931 SOUTH SEA Steel Steamer 19 DEC 1942 TEV WAHINE Turbo-electric vessel 10 APR 1968 YUNG PEN Taiwanese fishing boat 12 DEC 1982 DEINDA Ferro-cement Yacht 03 FEB 1992
Vessel:
Three masted barque of 317 tons, built at Prince Edward Island in 1874.
Length 119 ft, Beam 27 ft, Depth 15 ft.
Site:
Lies 60m off shore on the west side of Owhiro Bay. In 5m of water on a rock and gravel
bottom. Visibility 2-8m.
Incident:
On 7 March 1874 was blown up on rocks during a terrific gale while sailing from Wellington
to Australia in ballast. 50m to the west the Wellington was being wrecked at the same
time.
Condition:
Virtually nothing identifiable remains, however close inspection of the sea floor has
revealed pieces of copper sheath, nails or brass. Gold and silver coins, and jewellery
have also appeared.
Diveability:
One of four wrecks in the same area, easily accessible. A shore dive. Refer to the south coast dive site, Owhiro Bay Shipwrecks.
Vessel:
Wooden steamer of 109 tons, built in Australia in 1901.
Length 118 ft, Beam 25 ft, Depth 7 ft.
Site:
20m off the north west end of Mokopuna Island, Somes Island. In 4-7m of water on a sand
and mud bottom. Visibility about 3m.
Incident:
On 2 August 1918, caught fire at Kings Wharf with 1132 cases of motor spirit aboard. She
was towed clear of the wharf and drifted across to Somes Island where she exploded and
sank.
Condition:
Parts of her wooden hull are still semi-intact. Scattered wreckage includes winches,
bollards, anchors, a drum of cable and a selection of engine room tools.
Diveability:
Easy access, interesting site - a good, safe dive. Boat access is required.
Vessel:
A ferro-cement hulled yacht, probably built in Australia.
Length 45 ft.
Site:
On Luhr's Rock on the western side of Lyall Bay. In 5-7m of water on a rocky promontory.
Look just on the landward side of Luhr's Rock (the pointy one, sometimes called Sharktooth
Rock). Visibility 5m.
Incident:
The yacht ran aground around 3.30am as it was being brought into Lyall Bay in mistake for
Wellington Harbour entrance. The three crew were rescued in their liferaft about 6.30am by
Surf Rescue personnel who were out training in canoes.
Condition:
Scattered pieces of concrete filled with reinforcing iron. The wreck still has remnants of
nylon netting, and shiny pieces of aluminium and stainless steel can be seen. It
is an interesting dive site.
Diveability:
Strong currents surge around this point and care is needed. Boat access required.
Vessel:
Steel steamer of 3546 tons, built in England in 1897.
Length 420 ft, Beam 54 ft, Depth 28 ft.
Site:
300m north of the Pencarrow Head pumping station. In 5-15m of water on a rock bottom.
Visibility about 7m.
Incident:
On 25 August 1913, ran aground during very strong southerly wind, driving rain and
tremendous seas. By morning a line was fixed to shore and the crew was rescued one at a
time in a basket.
Condition:
Large quantity of steel litters the area. Propeller shaft still intact, supported by
bearing housings. Double bottom tanks provide good hidey-holes for crayfish.
Diveability:
Largest diveable wreck in Wellington Area. Interesting and worthwhile dive. However, the
water can get a bit niffy during a southerly which brings some of the Pencarrow sewer
discharge across. This is a boat dive as the road to Pencarrow Head is normally
locked.
Vessel:
Auxiliary ketch of 61 tons, built in Australia in 1895.
Length 77 ft, Beam 21 ft, Depth 6 ft.
Site:
Lies off the southern end of Mana Island. In 3-7m of water on a rock and shingle bottom.
Visibility 5-10m.
Incident:
On 18 May 1907 was stranded on the south-east end of Mana Island when trying to seek
shelter from a heavy sea and a south-easterly gale. She was on a passage from Havelock to
Lyttelton. She had previously been stranded twice, on one occasion fatally losing her
master overboard, and had been chartered on an expedition to the wreck of the Elingamite.
Condition:
Reportedly, virtually nothing identifiable remains apart from a few steel beams and the
odd piece of brass and copper.
Diveability:
One of two wrecks in the same area, the other being the Gil Blas, a 100 ton schooner
wrecked on 10 July 1857. Remnants of either vessel may be intermingled. A boat dive.
Vessel:
A three masted, wooden barque of 423 tons, built at Sunderland in 1865.
Length 143 ft, Beam 30 ft, Depth 18 ft.
Site:
Ran on to a rock in the vicinity of Toms Rock, Cape Terawhiti, about two miles off shore.
Incident:
The Grasmere sailed with a cargo of coal from Newcastle, NSW, to Wellington when on 25
December 1895 she ran on to a rock near Cape Terawhiti. She had been hugging the coastline
trying to avoid a strong wind and was awaiting the assistance of a tug when she struck.
The ships boats were blown off the land and, while the occupants had an anxious time, no
lives were lost.
Vessel:
Iron barque of 843 tons, built in Scotland in 1869.
Length 191 ft, Beam 29 ft, Depth 18 ft.
Site:
1km south of Pencarrow sewer outlet, 30m offshore. In 3-5m of water on a sand and rock
bottom. Visibility up to 13m.
Incident:
On 8 January 1896 sank in bad weather while bound from London to Wellington. The wind
swung to the south and blew the ship on to rocks. A boat rowed in to Wellington for help
and another smashed.
Condition:
Reported to be considerable wreckage over the sea floor. Complete sections of the hull,
barrel shaped chunks of cement and coils of rusted wire are evident. A lot of wreckage is
covered by sand.
Diveability:
Site apparently well worth visiting. Boat
dive.
Vessel:
Auxiliary schooner of 58 tons, built in New Zealand in 1901.
Length 92 ft, Beam 25 ft, Depth 6 ft.
Site:
Lies off Inconstant Point, Wellington Harbour. In 3-5m of water on a rock and shingle
bottom. Visibility 4m.
Incident:
On 26 March 1921 sank while beating up Wellington Harbour. A northerly gale was blowing
and very heavy seas were running. The captain and crew landed at Pencarrow Head in the
ship's boat.
Condition:
Only a few scattered pieces of steel remain. Probably she was stripped of her fittings
while high and dry. It has been reported that marble from her cargo was used to build the Massey Memorial in
Wellington above Point Halswell.
Diveability:
Presumably of low interest except as a dive site. Inconstant Point was named for the
vessel Inconstant which ran aground there in 1849. She, however, was refloated and taken
into Wellington Harbour. Boat dive.
Vessel:
Wooden screw steamer of 94 tons, built in Australia in 1898.
Length 101 ft, Beam 24 ft, Depth 7 ft.
Site:
Lies beside a lone rock (Nambucca Rock) in the centre of the bay 1km west of Sinclair
Head. About 600m from shore in 11m of water. Visibility to 12m.
Incident:
On 16 January 1905 was bound from Blenheim to Wellington when she struck on the reef
inside of Thoms Rock near Karori light. She ran into thick fog when passing Cape Terawhiti
which blocked her view of all lights. Those on board escaped safely, landing their boat at
Island Bay.
Condition:
The wreck is marked by twisted pieces of metal, her blown-up boiler, and perhaps a few
pieces of brass and lead.
Diveability:
A pleasant dive with relatively good visibility. Care should be
taken because of the tidal current in the area. Boat dive.
Vessel:
Iron screw-steamer of 824 tons, built in Glasgow in 1864.
Length 221 ft, Beam 29 ft, Depth 14 ft.
Site:
Struck abreast of the outfall of Karori Stream on what was believed to be Toms Rock.
Incident:
A Cook Strait passenger vessel, on the night of 12 February 1909 struck a rock and
foundered with the loss of 75 lives. When the vessel had started its voyage from Picton
and entered Cook Strait the weather was clear, however it later became very thick. While
the Master put the vessels head down the strait, an exceptionally strong flood tide had
moved the vessel close to the coast and she scraped her starboard side along a rock and
rapidly filled with water.
Vessel:
Iron steamer of 181 tons, built at Port Chalmers in 1882.
Length 129 ft, Beam 25 ft, Depth 10 ft.
Site:
50m east of the Yung Pen on the western side of Owhiro Bay. In 3-12m of water on a rock
and shingle bottom. Visibility 2-8m.
Incident:
On 1 May 1931 was blown on to the rocks while un-manoeuvrable through breaking her
tailshaft and losing her propeller. Her recovery was botched by the Wellington Harbour
tugs. Four crew drowned.
Condition:
Scattered pieces of iron litter the area, most unrecognisable apart from the boiler and
engine.
Diveability:
One of four wrecks in the same area. Easy access, shallow depth, and a popular dive site.
A shore dive. Refer to the south coast dive site, Owhiro Bay Shipwrecks.
Vessel:
Steel steamer of 127 tons, built in England in 1912.
Length 140 ft, Beam 27 ft, Depth 12 ft.
Site:
Lies 1.5km north east of Point Halswell in Wellington Harbour. In 12-20m of water on a mud
bottom. Visibility rarely above 3m.
Incident:
On 19 December 1942, was in collision with the inter-island ferry Wahine (an earlier boat
than that which sank in 1968) while on patrol in Wellington Harbour as a Navy minesweeper.
Condition:
Almost intact, sitting upright on the bottom. Upper deck super-structure demolished during
salvage operations. Holes on deck allow viewing inside hull.
Diveability:
One of the few complete hulls within easy access of divers. Dangerous to enter because of
poor visibility. Lots of fish. Boat dive.
Vessel:
Wooden Barque of 510 tons.
Site:
At the southern end of Breaker Bay at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. In 2-3m of water
on a sand and rock bottom. Visibility 5-7m.
Incident:
On 26 October 1848 sank when the pilot attempted to take the vessel out of the harbour via
Chaffers passage, despite a warning from the Master. She was bound for Sydney with
refugees from a violent series of Wellington earthquakes. Passengers and crew were landed
safely. There was not the slightest chance of saving her as she was fast on the rocks and
had lost her rudder.
Condition:
Little remains above the sand level.
Diveability:
Interesting as one of the earliest wreck sites around Wellington, however some effort is
required to find any traces of her. Easy shore access. A slight tidal current is usually
present. Refer to the south coast dive site, Gibraltar
Rock.
Vessel:
Iron steamer of 64 tons, built at Dunedin in 1875.
Length 103 ft, Beam 16 ft, Depth 8 ft.
Site:
500m north of Barretts Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. In 12m of water on a
sand bottom. Visibility 5-7m.
Incident:
On 1 November 1886 sank in Chaffers passage while bound from Wellington to Foxton. The
weather was thick and a heavy rain squall obscured land lights. The bottom was ripped out
of her on rocks.
Condition:
The site has been commercially worked however it is still one of the few semi-intact
steamships in the Wellington area. Wreckage has not scattered but has collapsed around the
keel.
Diveability:
Extremely interesting and well worth visiting. Boat access required. Slight tidal current
usually present.
The truth is, I have lost it, even after a fair amount of searching. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Vessel:
Twin screw turbo-electric vessel of 8948 tons, built in Govan, Scotland in 1966.
Length 489 ft, Beam 73 ft, Depth 42 ft.
Site:
Initially struck and crossed Barrett Reef, ultimately capsized beside Steeple Rock at
Seatoun.
Incident:
On 10 April 1968 a storm of unprecedented power forced the Wahine off course over Barrett
Reef, through Chaffers Passage, past Point Dorset and, anchors dragging, down to Steeple
Rock where she held her head into the storm for some hours. Although the storm began to
abate, the force of the outgoing tide swung the vessel side-on to the weather. This, along
with the water in her holds, caused her to lean over and eventually capsize on her
starboard side in 38 feet of water. Of the total of 734 people on board, 51 lost their
lives. Over the next year preparations were made to refloat her. However, a second storm
broke the hull into three pieces. The wreck was cut up and sold for scrap.
Vessel:
Full-rigged wooden ship of 696 tons, built at Maine, USA, in 1854.
Length 153 ft, Beam 30 ft, Depth 22 ft.
Site:
20m off the rocks on the western side of Owhiro Bay. In 5-12m of water on a rock and
shingle bottom. Visibility 2-8m.
Incident:
On 7 March 1869 was blown up on to the rocks while sailing from Wellington in ballast. The
Cyrus was being wrecked 50m east of her at the same time. Her foreign name was HELIOS.
Condition:
Very little remains apart from a donkey boiler and two anchors. Being wooden on this
exposed coast her remains would have scattered rapidly.
Diveability:
One of four wrecks in the same area. More interesting historically as there is little
showing for explorers. A shore dive. Refer to the south coast dive site, Owhiro Bay Shipwrecks.
Vessel:
Wooden barque of 536 tons, built at Prince Edward Island in 1874.
Length 145 ft, Beam 32 ft, Depth 17 ft.
Site:
Lies 300m off Seatoun Beach, Wellington Harbour. In 10m of water on a sandy bottom.
Visibility 5m maximum.
Incident:
On 5 November 1889 sank while beating up Wellington Harbour. She scraped her bottom while
passing Steeple Rock, started taking water and with her cargo of coal. Unexploded bomb
found in 1970's.
Condition:
Portions of wooden hull with copper sheathing and bronze pins still show, but looks more
like a collapsed coal shed than a barque. Coal still litters the sea floor.
Diveability:
Even though there is not a great deal of the boat left, this is still quite an interesting
site to dive. Boat access required.
Vessel:
Iron barque of 942 tons, built in England in 1875.
Length 202 ft, Beam 34 ft, Depth 20 ft.
Site:
Approximately 30m offshore in a small bay, directly inshore of the Karori Rock light.
Lying in 2-4m of water on a rock and shingle bottom, part of the bow breaking water at low
tide. Visibility in northerly conditions usually 5m.
Incident:
At midnight on 14 July 1907 ran aground on rocks while sailing from Wellington to Kaipara
and Sydney. The Captain and a seaman lost their lives. The beach was strewn with wreckage,
the vessel having been 'smashed to matchwood.'
Condition:
Regardless of the newspaper report, there are considerable pieces of hull remaining,
including large bow and stern sections.
Diveability:
This is a relatively complete wreck and quite interesting site but is not often visited by
divers because of its distance from Wellington and the unpredictably rough seas in the
area. Shore dive, but four wheel drive vehicle required. Refer to the south coast dive
site, Karori Light.
Vessel:
Steel fishing vessel of 174 tons, built in Taiwan in 1970.
Length 37 ft, Beam 37 ft, Depth 3 ft.
Site:
20m off shore in the channel on the western side of Owhiro Bay. In 7m of water on a rock
bottom. Visibility 2-8m.
Incident:
On 12 December 1982 drifted on to the rocks in the early morning. It is believed that no
lookout was on watch, and by the time the drift was noticed it was too late. Broke up in
later storms.
Condition:
The wreck eventually broke in two and the bow section was swept almost up to the road. It
was cut up for scrap. The stern lies upside down in the channel covered by 1-2m of water.
Diveability:
One of four wrecks in the same area. Easy access, shallow depth, and a popular dive site.
(Name means 'Good Luck Forever!). A shore dive. Refer to the south coast dive site, Owhiro Bay Shipwrecks.