Cable Bay Walkway, Nelson

Saturday 5 November 2022

The original trip had to be cancelled because of the SH6 road closure to Blenheim, so this was thought up at short notice. I was pleasantly surprised there were twelve participants including two visitors. The walkway is maintained by DOC but sections of it cross a working farm.

We parked at Glenduan by the coast and slowly walked uphill to the start of the track. Through the gate, the group took the left hand track (a shorter but steeper option) and we were spread out. The path zigzags at first, going up onto open farmland, with Alison doing a great job as tail-end Charlie. We walked and talked in pleasant sunny weather, if a bit windy. But for me it’s the sheep eye-balling me with their expressions. In a little under an hour we arrived at the grassy airstrip for morning tea.

After the airstrip the track goes through pine forest and then native bush, as Paula set a good pace at the front. We saw fantails and bellbirds, with the path up and down, coming out onto open pasture with great views of the coastline. We spotted kitesurfers and a couple of kayakers, and stopped to take photos, then finally arrived at Sentinel Hill around 11.45.

It was a tad early for lunch, so I asked if anyone was interested in walking down to Cable Bay to check things out. No one was keen, so we had a long lunch, some meandered down and explored, some had a snooze, and some talked about a possible trip to Pepin Island. A 50-minute lunch in total.

From here it was back the same way with no one in a hurry. When we got to the airstrip we had a stop then carried on another 300 metres where there are two signposts pointing to the finish. Most went back on the farm road while I took the rest along the farm track we came up in the morning. I managed to get close enough to a cow for a nice photo.

A finishing time of about 3pm. Top man Edward made a cup of tea for anyone that was keen and I saw the same kitesurfer at this end, racing past.

Here is a little information for you, Cable Bay was NZs first telecommunication link, with a cable between Cable Bay and Sydney, completed in 1876.....  I kid you not.

Those out today were: David W (leader and scribe), Alison, Robyn, Jane (visitor), Edward, Paula G, Lesley J, Martina, Tony, Pauline, Lorna and Jan (visitor).