Cable Bay: Bay, Beach and Coastal Walks

A Changing Bay and Beach

Cable Bay lies at the southern end of Doubtless Bay. The north-facing bay is about one kilometre long; its beach is 5 to 15 metres wide above the high-water line. Its structure and shape are very dynamic. This is an important difference when planning your day: the shape of the beach can change, and conditions are not always the same.

Cable Bay Reserve is on State Highway 10 in Cable Bay. The council has put up bilingual water-safety signs in Cable Bay. If swimming or snorkelling is part of your plan, check the conditions and local signs before entering the water.

Water, Coastal Walks and Breaks

You can swim and snorkel in Cable Bay, and there are also coastal walking tracks. This gives you different ways to explore: time in the water or some exercise along the coast. When planning holiday accommodation, your preferred daily rhythm may help you decide: do you want water activities to define your stay, or would you mainly like to explore the coast on foot? The dynamic shape of the beach is another reason to take current conditions into account when planning water activities.

The Cable Bay Store is in the heart of Cable Bay, close to the beach, and offers ice cream, cold drinks and something to eat—for example, after swimming or exploring Doubtless Bay. If you plan to make a stop there, check in advance that what you want is available during your visit.

Culture and Nature in the Far North District

In the Far North District, the Te Ahu Museum at the Te Ahu Centre in Kaitāia offers insight into the region’s history. Topics include pre-European Māori artefacts, gold mining, Dalmatian heritage, kauri gum and timber, early shipwrecks, and missionaries and pioneers. The museum offers films, interactive exhibits, virtual landscape tours and informative displays for visitors of all ages. Its extensive archive includes documents, journals, newspapers, maps and photographs; more than 500 records are available online.

The Far North District also has distinctive examples of architectural history. The former Mangonui Courthouse in Mangonui is a well-preserved late-19th-century courthouse, built in 1892. An unusually intact example of a small courthouse, it is of national significance. The Stone Store in Kerikeri was built between 1832 and 1836 and is New Zealand’s oldest intact stone building and oldest surviving warehouse. Pompallier in Russell was built between 1841 and 1842 and is among New Zealand’s earliest surviving French colonial buildings.

The Te Paki Coastal Track in the Far North District offers a different landscape, with views of the northern coast, regenerating bush and large wind-shaped sand dunes. You can walk the full track or selected sections; there are four campsites along the route. As operating conditions and possible closures can change, check for updates before making specific hiking plans.

Discover More Destinations

Matapouri, Awanui, Rawhiti, Ruakaka, Kaikohe, Otaika, Waipu, Lake Ohia

For the main travel overview: Northland.