Cape Maria van Diemen
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Cape Maria van Diemen |
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Location of Cape Maria van Diemen |
Cape Maria van Diemen is the westernmost point of the
North Island of
New Zealand. Being close to the northern tip of the
Aupouri Peninsula, many people in New Zealand also incorrectly believe it to be the northernmost point (that title goes to the
Surville Cliffs, 30 kilometres to the east and slightly further north).
The cape was named by
Abel Tasman after the wife of his patron,
Anthony van Diemen, Governor General of Batavia (now
Jakarta) in January
1643, on the same voyage of discovery during which he named
Van Diemen's Land (now
Tasmania). It is - along with the
Three Kings Islands - one of only two geographic features in New Zealand to retain the names given to them by Abel Tasman.
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Te Werahi Beach and Cape Maria van Diemen |
