In Gelting Bay, water sports, nature conservation and coastal paths come together. On the water, there are areas for surfing and sailing; on land, paths lead around the Geltinger Birk nature reserve and along the coast. There are also historic buildings and a beach. This makes it possible to plan your stay around different interests rather than reducing the bay to a single excursion destination.
Water sports and the harbour at Wackerballig
Gelting Bay offers areas for surfing and sailing. Wackerballig Marina is located right on the bay and the open Baltic Sea. The marina was inaugurated on 18 July 1980 and has 234 berths and a 220-metre-long jetty. This brings into focus both the use of the bay as a sailing area and a specifically named harbour location.
Marine conservation and landscape
The second-largest continuous reef system in the Schleswig-Holstein Baltic Sea stretches along Gelting Bay and beyond SchleimĂĽnde. Large parts of this system are protected by marine nature reserves. In the Geltinger Birk nature reserve, a seagrass meadow approximately 1,000 metres long extends into the bay.
In the marine nature reserve “Ostseefläche Geltinger Bucht bis Schleimündung,” the rules published following the designation of the marine protected area in 2026 allow swimming, bathing and diving. Water sports and designated marine conservation therefore coexist in the bay.
Circular route, coastal cycle paths and birdlife
The developed, approximately 12-kilometre-long hiking and cycling route “around the Birk” runs mostly along the dyke around the Geltinger Birk nature reserve and between the two Birk entrances. Numerous cycle paths along the coast of Gelting Bay offer views across the bay as far as Denmark. This makes it possible to distinguish between a route with a named circuit around the protected area and coastal routes with views across the bay.
The 2026 schedule included regular NABU birdwatching tours focusing on the birdlife of Geltinger Birk from April to September. They started at the car park by the “Birklein” kiosk near Charlotte Mill. If you are planning to join a tour, check the dates for your intended travel period.
Mill, lighthouse and beach
Charlotte Mill is a Dutch-style smock mill built in 1826. It was constructed to drain the Noor and grind grain. The historic Falshöft Lighthouse also stands on the coast of Gelting Bay. The two buildings offer different historical points of interest: the mill’s design and original purposes are specified, while Falshöft stands on the coast as a lighthouse.
Gelting Bay’s beach lies between Norgaardholz and Ohrfeld. It has a playground; use of the beach and car park is free of charge. A campsite is nearby.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Steinberghaff, Kronsgaard, Steinberg, Niesgrau, StoltebĂĽll, Sterup, Esgrus, Steinbergkirche, Quern, Stangheck, Rabenholz, Pommerby, Hasselberg, Maasholm, Nieby, Rabel.
Go to the higher-level travel overview: Schleswig-Flensburg.
