Link Pathway

The Link Pathway is a 42-kilometre walking and mountain bike track that connects Havelock, Picton, Anakiwa and the Queen Charlotte Track in Marlborough. Construction of the trail began in 2005 after local residents wanted to see paths link local communities and the rediscovery of four sections of the historic bridle path between Picton and Havelock. European settlers and miners created the bridle path in the 1860s to take their horses between the two townships, including during the short-lived gold rush in Wakamarina. Much of the path was destroyed when Queen Charlotte Drive was built around 1920. The first section of the Link Pathway, in the Mahakipawa Arm near Havelock, was finished in 2006. At just under 1km long, it was built entirely by hand and inspired the idea of eventually linking Havelock and Picton. With construction driven by local community members and thousands of volunteer hours overseen by the charitable Link Pathway Trust, the trail progressed in stages over 15 years. The old bridle trail sections now form around 20% of the Link Pathway, which also incorporates an old stock route near Picton that once led to the town’s former freezing works. Travelling through lush native bush interspersed with beautiful sea views, the pathway takes in a remnant podocarp forest, a unique salt marsh, a mature beech forest, and an historic WWII lookout and signal station site. In 2021, the final link to Havelock, the Motuweka Havelock Boardwalk, was completed with arched bridges and views across the scenic Kaituna Estuary. The Link Pathway is a wide, well-graded track that can be completed in one day, or in sections.

Some sections are yet to be completed, including the Havelock Community Pathway and the Linkwater connection (see the below map for more information).

Link Pathway Facebook Picton-Havelock Link Pathway nears the finish line This track is part of the Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa track database. Herenga ā Nuku has maps and advice about public access to the outdoors . We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . We recommend trying these online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping/field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel .