Cable Bay

Off the Beaten Track, Properly

Cable Bay is a quiet detour off the main highway that most people drive straight past. The foreshore is rocky, but there's a walkway from there that climbs up to a genuinely cracking view. It's one of those spots that rewards the small effort of getting there.

Low Tide is Your Friend

The real move here is timing your visit around low tide and wandering from the Delaware Bay carpark across to the isolated Delaware Bay beach. There are no formed tracks, you'll wade a couple of shallow tidal streams, but if you want a beach almost entirely to yourself, this is how you find one. If you surf, the lefthanders over there can be pretty special when the swell is running. Just keep an eye on the tide for your way back.

Stay a Night

The holiday park here is run by a local who deliberately keeps things low-key and doesn't push it hard online. That's sort of the point. It's a genuine, unhurried experience rather than a polished operation. If you're after some space and quiet after the busier spots further along the Nelson coast, this is a solid overnight stop.