Le Bons Bay

Bed & Breakfast

 

 Banks Peninsula   New Zealand

 

Archaeological evidence suggests there was Maori settlement of LE BONS BAY for some 700 years before the first European arrived in 1857. By this time, however, there were no Maori living in the Bay.

 

There is some conjecture surrounding the origins of the name “Le Bons”. The earliest maritime chart on which the bay is featured refers to it as Bones Bay and this appears to be a reference to the large amount of whale bone scattered on the beach at that time. Another explanation, with some documented but hearsay evidence, is that the bay was named after the master of a French whaling vessel.

 

The first settlers in what was then a densely wooded valley were concerned with milling timber and Le Bons became home to the Peninsula’s first steam operated timber mill.

 

Later when the timber was exhausted residents turned to farming (the Bay had its own butter

 and cheese factory) and cocksfooting (growing grass for seed).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ll happily recommend some of the more interesting sites to visit when you come stay!

 

Reference: Brittenden, Garry (2002) Le Bons Bay, the story of a settlement. 2nd Edition

Copies available for sale.

 

Life for those trying to extract a living from the challenging but spectacular country of Banks Peninsular was never easy and a short stroll through the Le Bons Bay cemetery leaves one in little doubt about the harshness and tragedy of life for early settlers.

 

Many of the original homes and buildings from those days are still in evidence today; some beautifully restored and others slowly disappearing back into the bush.