From beside the Kaituna River, a short section leads to the road at the entrance to the Havelock Refuse Transfer Station, which is crossed, and the path continues beside the large gum trees. The path climbs gently for almost 1 km through a grove of wattles, and pockets of regenerating scrub until the bridle falls, a lookout over Havelock, and the waterfall grotto are reached. This area, the start of the historic bridle path built in 1862, features seats, picnic tables, interpretative display panels, and quirky artwork.
The pathway continues to climb very gently for a further 2 km’s until Cullen Point Ridge is reached where another lookout site overlooks Havelock and Te Hoiere Pelorus River, and the Kaituna Estuary, with the impressive Mount Tapuae-O-Ueneku in the distance to the south. Looking north, there are vistas of the inner Pelorus Sound. A short side track heads down the ridge to a car park on the road, where the Cullens Point Trig, and Loop Tracks begin. There is a small public toilet there.
The Link Pathway gently descends for 2 km, with views of Mahakipawa Arm, before crossing the Moenui Stream beside the road, and climbing gently for a short distance, before descending to beside the road once more near Belvue Bay.
Lookout site over Havelock
This site is a short walk along the Mahakipawa Hill at the Havelock end of the Link Pathway. The lookout offers a stunning vista of Havelock and the converging of Te Hoiere / Pelorus River with the Sound, features hand-crafted timber tables and seats, a hand-sculptured rotating rock, and a storyboard interpreting the historic bridle path that originally traversed the site.
The timber was lifted from a sunken totara log out of Te Hoiere / Pelorus River, and the rock came from Cullen Creek. Two natural resources from two nearby rivers, both significant to iwi, early pakeha settlers, and todays locals.
Thank you especially to Greg, and to Jenny, Matt, Robin, Rick, and the group from University of Canterbury Student Army who helped create this lookout site.
More storyboards are still to come at this site.
