Havelock man’s dream of link to Picton

Rick Edmonds will receive an Outdoor Access Champion Award from the Walking Access Commission this year, recognising his work building the Link Pathway Te Ara Tuhono between Havelock and Picton.

The pathway stretches a marathon distance of 42km and has also been a marathon investment of time.

Since 2005 Edmonds has mobilised friends, neighbours and farmers to rebuild the bridle path between Picton and Havelock.

Edmonds says the idea for the path came when locals noted there was nowhere people could go for walks and enjoy the Marlborough Sounds environment, other than on the edge of the road.

“The Queen Charlotte Drive between Picton and Havelock is narrow, is windy, and there is absolutely no footpath or area for pedestrians or cyclists to get off that road. But there are lots of people who either live here or who come here on holidays who wanted to enjoy the environment and just have nowhere to go for wanders,” says Edmonds.

And yet, there was all this public Crown land throughout the Sounds which wasn’t accessible.

“So, we hatched this vision - to make some pathways, some cycleways, some tracks in public land which would just mean people could access the communities, the lookouts. Just go for walks and get off the road.”

As the final stages of the pathway near completion the number of people, especially locals, using the track has skyrocketed. Rick has gathered the support of the Marlborough District Council, Department of Conservation, Port Marlborough NZ, Rata Foundation, NZ King Salmon, Kathmandu, Outward Bound, The Department of Internal Affairs, Te Araroa and many other organisations.

Most recently, Rick also led a team of volunteers, average age 72 years, to build the Motuweka Pathway in Havelock.

This is a link track for Havelock locals to get onto the Link Pathway Te Ara Tuhono. It enables school children to get off the main road and to walk safely to school.

For visitors and locals, it also gives them the ability to view the incredible biodiversity and wildlife in the Kaituna estuary.

Photo by Link Pathway Te Ara Tuhono. Below: A peaceful scene that can be seen from the track to Picton.

Photo by Link Pathway Te Ara Tuhono. Opposite page above: The trail goes around a cliff with sea views. Opposite page below right: A curved bridge on the trail creates a pretty picture. Photo by Link Pathway Te Ara Tuhono.

Photo by Link Pathway Te Ara Tuhono. Above right: An arched crossing over a wet area.