Browns Bay - sunrise and bush walk with a night time treat if you are lucky!

Browns Bay, one bay to the north of Elaine Bay, is a great option to stay and still be close to all of the action of Elaine Bay. Safe anchorage if you stern tie, with protection from north and south winds, an epic native forest, bush walk and great low tide beach.

GPS: 41°04'55.97"S - 173°77'83.57"E
Depth at anchor : 8 metres
Moorings : No
Ocean Floor : Small pebbles, gravel, mud
Holding : Fair. Good with Stern Line.
Sheltered : Northern end - Northerlies through to South Westerlies
                   Southern End - South Easterlies through to Northerlies
On anchor : calm, local boat traffic during the day
Cellphone Signal : weak intermittent 4G 
Beach : Fine pebbles, fine mud
View : facing east means great sunrise, excellent native forest and long views across the bay
Fresh Water : small streams
Bugs : minimal

Our stay at Browns Bay happened a little by accident. We were going to drop anchor in Elaine Bay, but couldn't get it to set without dragging in the 15 knot wind, so we dropped off everyone to do the Piwakawaka Walk to Browns Bay, and Sophia and I headed to find a safe anchorage at the other end of the track. 
We tried to set anchorage in two different spots in Lucerne Bay, another bay further north from Browns, but again couldn't get the anchor to set without dragging. The boats at the head of the bay were all stern tied, so that perhaps is an indicator. We headed back to Browns Bay and managed to set the anchor in the fine silt just off the stream outlet into the bay. Not ideal but we held.

"The Piwakawaka bush walk is worth the whole experience. To walk to Elaine Bay and back, and then be back at the boat, was a fantastic late afternoon activity for the whole family."

If you are looking for privacy, away from the "hustle and bustle" of Elaine Bay, this is a great location to stay - with the caveat that stern tying is thoroughly recommended. As mentioned in the video, we were very lucky to stay put for the night, only for the complete lack of wind, and our very heavy ground tackle. In most other places in and around the area we couldn't get the anchor to set at all, but we are using an 80lb CQR Anchor if that makes a difference to your decision. 

Photograph: Rowing to the boat after a great bush walk in Browns Bay

One of the standout features of the bay is the sunrise. Because the sea is to the east, mountains to the west, the sunrise is the real winner here. Early morning was very nice, with golden light streaming into the boat. One thing that was completely unexpected was the marine bioluminescence during the night. We see it all over the Marlborough Sounds, brighter in some places than others, and Browns Bay was one of those places that produced an amazing show. Our guests onboard had never seen it before, and we had the good fortune of a moonless start to the night,  so as soon as the sun went down it became really really dark. The marine bioluminescence was so strong it was even visible in the very shallows, so as the gentle waves lapped onto the shoreline, a light show ensued. It was quite special.