Mercury Bay is an inlet on the East Coast of the Coromandel Peninsula , North Island NZ. On 9th of November 1769 , Captain James Cook, aboard the HMS Endeavour observed the transit of Mercury across the face of the sun and so named the bay. On November the 15th he raised the British flag and declared sovereignty for Great Britain. With it's stunning beaches and bays,azure blue water and clean white sands it is a popular holiday destination. Nearby are the beautiful Hahei,Cathedral Cove and Hot Water beaches.