Pepin Island lies at the end of the bay’s shingle causeway. A causeway connects Pepin Island with the mainland and the settlement of Cable Bay, Nelson. Evidence suggests there was a pā on Pepin Island. It was positioned at the end of the causeway joining the island to the mainland. Māori used this bay for fishing and camping. The open sea, sheltered bay, tidal flats and streams provided bountiful supplies of fish. While the forest had a source of birds, fruits and berries.

Cable Bay has a sheltered shingle beach. The thin land connection to Pepin Island, forming the crest of the beach, is the result of a rare combination of currents and a rock source. The area is part of the Cable Bay Recreation Reserve, managed by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. The adjacent marine reserve offers recreational opportunities such as kayaking and snorkeling.

The name Cable Bay arose from New Zealand’s first overseas cable link, to Australia, which started operation in 1876. The international telegraph cable established a connection with the world-wide telegraph network via Sydney. This new service meant communications to Europe only took four days instead of up to six months for letters. Today the connection is for the internet highway.