In 1919 an area of land around Shakespeare Cliff was set aside, and a small memorial was constructed, based on the erroneous notion that it was the location of Cook's observations.
The brig Trial and the schooner Brothers were attacked by Māori on 20 August 1815 in Mercury Bay, when several sailors were killed.
[3][4] The bay was the resting place of HMS Buffalo, a ship that transported passengers and prisoners to Australia that was wrecked in a storm in 1840.
Several small islets are located at the southern and northern extremities of the bay, and the Mercury Islands are 10 km to the north.
The Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve is in the southern part of the bay.