Holmes. Sir Maurice – Captain James Cook
– A Bibliographical Excursion – (1952)

From 1773 until 1827 we have no authentic record of European visitors to the Nelson coast, but from 14th to 28th January 1827 Dumont D'Urville explored the coastline from Cape Farewell to French Pass, particularly the western shoreline of Tasman Bay, and in the course of this exploration he bestowed no fewer than 32 names on geographical features. D'Urville's account of the voyage was published by the French Government in parts during the period 1830–1835.