Port Nicholson Port Nicholson, North Island, New Zealand. (more) Wellington Harbour inlet, New Zealand Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/place/Wellington-Harbour Feedback Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Port Nicholson Written by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 11, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Also called: Port Nicholson (Show more) See all related content News • Japan’s navy visits Wellington for first time in 90 years • Aug. 8, 2025, 11:02 PM ET (Taipei Times) Show less Wellington Harbour, inlet of Cook Strait indenting southern North Island, New Zealand. The almost circular harbour measures 7 miles (11 km) by 6 miles and covers a total of some 31 square miles (80 square km). At least 60 feet (18 metres) deep over most of its extent, the bay is one of the world’s finest natural harbours. The Hutt River enters it from the north, and to the south a deep passageway 1 mile (1.6 km) wide joins it with Cook Strait. Entered by Captain James Cook in 1773, the inlet was surveyed in 1826 and named for Captain John Nicholson, harbourmaster at Sydney. The port, first used by sealers and whalers, was chosen in 1839 to be the site of the initial New Zealand Company settlement. European settlers arrived in 1840 and established Britannia at the mouth of the Hutt but later moved southwest to Lambton Harbour, an inlet in Wellington Harbour, around which the city of Wellington grew.

　　This article was most recently revised and updated by Lorraine Murray.