A Little Bay With History

Cable Bay is a tranquil cove with a claim to fame. It was the exit point for a telegraph cable brought to shore from Australia. It was New Zealand's first modern international communication link, providing faster connection with the world than sea mail.

To get to Cable Bay, travel about 20 minutes north of Nelson. Just before Hira, turn left down Cable Bay Road (you'll see a little church on the corner). The road is reasonably narrow, with a creek flowing through farmland to your right. 

Before long the road turns windy and if you are travelling in a larger bus or towing a fifth wheel there may be bends where you'll need to use both sides of the road. Cattle trucks come through here, so although it's tight in areas, it can be done with caution.

Cable Bay's beach is mostly shingle with sections of sand. When I was there the golden sand had unusual markings that looked like artwork - like winter trees.

To the left of the bay is The Cable Bay walkway. This is reasonably steep and takes you through hilly farmland. The views are spectacular. It isn't a loop track so arrangements will need to be made to be picked up at the other end. Some walkers leave a car at both ends, one group begin at the Glen end, while the other starts at Cable Bay. When they meet halfway they swap car keys and meet again afterwards. As the track is over private farmland there's stock grazing. Therefore no dogs are allowed at any time. During lambing season it is closed to the public.

Start of the walk from Cable Bay end.

Looking over the bay towards Pepin Island

Although no camping is allowed on the beach front, there is a camping ground, 'Cable Bay Holiday Park,' a few hundred metres away. If you're taking a day trip you'll discover there are no rubbish bins, so rubbish has to be taken away with you. DOC however, has provided toilets at both ends of the shingle causeway and picnic tables.

If you're after a bite to eat, there's 'The Cable Bay Cafe' with a delicious menu and coffees. It's one of the oldest cafes in Nelson being built in the 1920s by the Wiffen family.

Apparently the bay is renowned for fishing. If you're a keen fisherman head north of the bay. To the south of the inlet is the Horoirangi Marine Reserve. This reserve begins at The Glen (Glenduan) and ends at Ataata Point, which is the southern headland of Cable Bay.

The beach is safe to swim, dive, paddle and is dog friendly.

Paddy

'Boo' - no matter where we take her she always ends up a mess!

Oakly

If you're interested in the history of Cable Bay, here's an article I wrote for The Nelson Mail.

A Little Bay - Famous In Its Day.

A mere 20 kilometres north of Nelson lies a little bay with an interesting past, Cable Bay, Rokokura.

This bay was first named ‘Schroders Mistake’ by European settlers in 1843. The title came about when a cutter (a single masted sailing vessel), owned by a Nelson merchant, Schroder, was taking a survey party to Marlborough and became stranded on a sand bar.

Several years later, in 1926, the bay became known as Cable Bay. The first international telegraph cable linking New Zealand with the worldwide telegraph network via Sydney came ashore in this sheltered inlet. The telegraph cable opened for business on the 21^st February 1876 with 54 telegrams received and 93 sent.

Two ships (both steamers), the Hibernia and Edinburgh were used to lay the cable. The cable came ashore on the South Island because at the time business was notably greater than the North Island. When the South Island’s gold rush dwindled and Māori wars in the North Island ended, business in the South Island decreased. During this period, the North Island grew larger in economic importance.

In 1914, the company offices and sleeping lodgings located at Cable Bay, burnt down. The business remained operating until 1917, before shifting to Titahi Bay near Wellington.

Although Cable Bay no longer hosts a telegraph cable it’s a fabulous place to visit. One of the oldest cafes in the Nelson area, ‘The Cable Bay Café’ is located there. It was built in the 1920s by the Wiffin family and opened as tearooms.

The popular Cable Bay walk also starts from this bay. It’s a two to three hour walk across hilly, private farmland. The track ends at The Glen (Glenduan) and offers fantastic views.

Cable Bay with its shingle beach is a fabulous spot for swimming, diving and kayaking. If paddling, you can view sea caves, blowholes, bird colonies and perhaps the odd seal around Pepin Island.

Pepin Island lies at the end of the bay’s shingle causeway. It was named after an explorer, Jules d’Urville’s wife Adèle Pépin. In 1996 a German businesswoman Dr Viola von Hohenzollern bought Pepin Island. When purchased, it was overgrazed, rundown and had an abundance of wild goats.

A farm manager made improvements to the island using pest control, planting native trees, and fencing. In December 2012 von Hohenzollern passed away and her daughter, inherited Pepin Island.

Evidence suggests there was a pā on Pepin Island. It was positioned at the end of the causeway joining the island to the mainland. Māori used this bay for fishing and camping. The open sea, sheltered bay, tidal flats and streams provided bountiful supplies of fish. While the forest had a source of birds, fruits and berries.

The pā (and the bay) are now known as Rotokura. In August 2014 the name of the bay officially became Rotokura/Cable Bay succeeding the Treaty of Waitangi Settlement between The Crown and Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihui.

This tranquil cove, with a unique slice of New Zealand history is the perfect place to visit for a peaceful experience. Although close to Nelson, it feels as though you’re miles away. There’s a camping ground a couple of hundred metres away from the beach if staying overnight appeals.

So why not jump in the car and take a trip? Visualise how it would have been when Māori stayed in the area. And imagine the period when the Cable Station existed.

Further Information

• ·      Dogs are welcome at Cable Bay/ Rotokura beach.
• ·      No dogs allowed on ‘The Cable Bay’ walkway.
• ·      The ‘Cable Bay Café’ is closed over winter months.
• ·      ‘The Cable Bay Holiday Park’ has powered and non-powered sites, plus       campground cabins available.
• ·      No camping is allowed at Cable Bay/ Rotokura beach.
• ·      Cable Bay has picnic seats at either end of the bay.
• ·      DOC toilets are situated at each end of the shingle causeway.
• ·      There are no rubbish bins. You’ll need to take any rubbish away with you.