Where the tide sets the pace
Salt flats, lighthouse walks and harbour suppers on a quiet stretch of coast. Come for a weekend, stay for the long light of summer evenings.
Start planningSee Saltmarsh Bay through visitors' eyes
Photos shared by people who have walked the boardwalks, paddled the inlets and queued for the bakery on Harbour Street.
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Explore the coast
Saltmarsh Bay curves for eleven kilometres between two headlands. The north end is all dunes and birdlife; the south end is the old fishing harbour, where the boats still land the morning catch.
Lighthouse loop
A gentle five-kilometre walk from the harbour to Gull Point and back along the cliff path. Allow two hours and bring a windproof layer.
Paddle the inlets
Kayaks and paddleboards are for hire at the boathouse from May to September. Go out on a rising tide and let it carry you up the creeks.
Harbour suppers
Fish shacks, a wine bar in the old net loft and a bakery that sells out by ten. See where to eat.
Plan your visit
The coastal bus runs hourly from the rail station at Fenwick. Parking at the harbour fills early on summer weekends, so arrive before nine or use the park-and-ride at the top of the hill.
The visitor centre on Quay Road is open daily from Easter to October. Ask about the tide tables before setting out across the flats.