Waikawa

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Waikawa is the name of two small settlements in the South Island of New Zealand.

[edit] Waikawa, Southland

Waikawa is the name of a small settlement in Southland at the southwestern edge of The Catlins.

The township is now a small fishing settlement, but at one time in the late 19th century was a major port, shipping timber from the sawmills of the Catlins north to help build the new town of Dunedin. Originally a small Maori community, the first European settlers to the area set up sawmills in the late 1830s.

Unfortunately for Waikawa, the port facilities were prone to silting, and the nearby township of Fortrose became the more prominent port. It too fell prey to the arrival of the Catlins River Branch railway in the late 1870s.

[edit] Waikawa, Marlborough

Waikawa is also the name of a small settlement to the east of Picton, Marlborough, New Zealand.

Waikawa includes a couple of shops some accommodations apartments and many luxury holiday homes along the shore line. Waikawa is an important New Zealand tourist destination because with its large marina it acts as gate way to the Marlborough Sounds and famous treks (hikes) such as the Queen Charlotte Track.

Waikawa is host to Waikawa Marina which is one of the largest marinas in New Zealand. Waikawa Marina hosts and 600 yacht berths and 70 individual lock-up boatsheds. The marina offers a typical range of modern on-site marine services and facilities. These facilities include a café /bar and accommodation.