Take a relaxing break in Cable Bay, one of New Zealand’s best spots for swimming and snorkeling in summer due to the Far North’s subtropical climate. Nicknamed “the Winterless North,” the Northland region has a year-round mild climate, so it’s always a good time to visit.
Enjoy the warm touch of Cable Bay’s almost pink sands as you go for a barefoot stroll along the pristine beach. While you watch surfers navigate the waves between the rocks, the kids can build sand castles or play with others in the children’s playground.
A Cable Station operated on this part of Doubtless Bay from 1902 until 1912, lending its name to this stretch of coastline. The sub-marine telegraph cable spanned 3,458 nautical miles and was referred to as the All-Red Route, linking New Zealand with Australia, Norfolk Island and Canada.
While the building is long gone, you can still marvel about the fact that the morse-coded message reached all the way across the globe to Vancouver in British Columbia.
For even earlier local history, explore the nearby Taumarumaru Reserve run by the Department of Conservation just to the east. The reserve includes three historic Māori pā sites, which were strategically positioned fortified settlements.
Just to the east is Coopers Beach, with a nice swimming beach and a bigger shopping center which hosts a Saturday farmers market.
Cable Bay is some 2 hours northwest of Whangarei and 1.5 hours southeast of Cape Rēinga by car. Other popular sights in the area include Mangonui, with its famous fish shop, and Taipa, which has a Whaling Museum.
A favorite with sun-loving national and international visitors year-round, Cable Bay has many places to stay, but it’s worth making reservations during the festive seasons when vacationing families from the big cities arrive here in droves.
Although small in size, Cable Bay is one of those great beach locations where you feel so removed from everyday life that you could linger forever.
