Te Ara Tuhuno Taster

The Link Pathway / Te Ara Tuhono starts at the end of Dublin Street. The pathway gently sidles around on the seaward side of Queen Charlotte Drive, offering scenic views of Picton Harbour, Picton itself, Kaipupu Point Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Shakespeare Bay log-yard.

Follow the path beside the road, past the lookout over the working Port, until it transitions to the old stock route. This route was historically used to lead stock to the old Picton Freezing Works, which was once located near today's log yard.

At about the 1.5km mark, the trail leaves the road edge and descends down to the edge of the estuary, where it follows a boardwalk and skirts the beach, home to various bird species. It then meanders through an impressive grove of tall podocarp trees, remnants of the forest that once covered the flats at the head of Shakespeare Bay.

Opposite the Shakespeare Bay Wharf a short side track on the inland side leads up to a lookout site and seat, offering a great view of any berthed log or cruise ships.

As you proceed, you'll encounter fun fairy doors at the base of large trees, near a lookout and seating area that offers views through the bush to Mabel Island and Kaipupu Point.

The pathway continues gently through mature beech trees, with two narrow sections due to storm damage but otherwise wide and well-graded. Not long after the Pathway turns west, a side track leads for 300 metres to the remains of a World War Two Lookout and Signal Station. Enjoy the view and come back the way you came!

If you have limited time, you can start at the 1.5km mark where there is a carpark, and follow the signs down to the estuary.