Cable Bay is just North of Nelson along the coast. It's a great area for walking. We took a path up from the beach and predictably got lost. Funny looks from the sheep and cattle as we struggled to find the path. On the way down we realised we were a bit over-excited on the climb and totally missed the signs leading us up the hill.
Cable Bay is where the first Telegraph Line from outside NZ made it to shore. It cost 15 shillings a word to send to UK. So 'Hello Mother' would cost £1.50, a lot of money in those days. In the 1870's the South Island was more important than the North hence the cable ending up in Nelson (some say it still is).
We met a local who told us the copper cable was visible near the shore so we went on a hunt but missed the connection? It was not great weather but we had our picnic lunch and wandered about and had a really nice time. Not spectacular but the sort of place we hoped to find.
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| Where is the cable |
One side of the bay is formed by Pepin Island and is linked only by a causeway. Our new friend told us it was owned by a wealthy German Industrialist and was Private! No walking on my land. We went to the gates and it all looked a bit sinister. Can imagine some James Bond villain having his lair there. The peak of the Island flips off to reveal a missile launching base. Happily Doktor Nein was not at home so we escaped safely in our Toyota Yaris.
On the way home we stopped at a pleasant Tahunanui Beach Park. The wind had picked up so the kite surfers had the sandy beach to themselves. Well, apart from us of course. We struggled to walk, with gritty teeth, into the wind. |
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