It’s worth popping down to have a look at the Port Charles wharf and get absorbed in the expanse of the harbour inlet and check out the number of boat moorings. There is just a wharf here with no actual boat launching ramp – apparently James Cook sailed into Port Charles wharf on 18 November 1769, stocking the Endeavour with fresh water before continuing into the Hauraki Gulf and sailing up the Thames River.

An interesting fact though is that there is uncertainty around the relevance of the name “Charles” in this place name.