Cable Bay in the Nelson region is a beautiful bay only 25 minutes from Nelson City. Great for swimming, fishing, kayaking, walking or just a having a relaxing picnic or a wander along the beach.

The laying of New Zealand’s first international telegraph cable was from Sydney to Cable Bay, it took 11 days and transmission began in 1876. The cable came ashore into a timber building and from the cable station, messages were sent to Nelson via telegraph wire. This new service meant communications to Europe only took four days instead of up to six months for letters. With a population of about 30, the cable station was a self-contained village. The office and sleeping quarters burned down in 1914, the station remained in operation until 1917 when the cable was shifted to Titahi Bay near Wellington.

A walkway provides stunning views of the bay and plenty of information about the area. The walkway continues across farmland and adjacent to the marine reserve and offers wonderful views of the coast, Nelson and Abel tasman National park.

We didn’t have time to go that far but we will certainly be going back there.

How to get there:

From Nelson – follow state highway 6 from Nelson to Hira, turn left into Cable Bay Road.

From the Rai Valley – turn right at Hira from state highway 6 onto Cable Bay Road.