Wellington Regional Trails
Te Ara Piko wraps around the Pāuatahanui Inlet and connects up with Pāuatahinui Wildlife Reserve and Camborne Walkway.

An easy meandering pathway through a nationally important estuary outlooking Pāuatahanui Inlet.

Walking time

45 min

Length

4.6km

Uses

Walking/Running, Mountain Biking, Wheelchair/Pram

Type

Single track

Walking difficulty

Easy: Walking track

Mountain Bike Grade

Easy: Grade 2

Profile

0m climb

0m descent

5m highest point

Dogs

Yes (on lead)

About the trail

Te Ara Piko runs along the northern edge of Pāuatahanui Inlet, through indigenous salt marshes and wetland habitat. The trail features stretches of boardwalk and bridges, with amazing views of the harbour. The inlet is the perfect spot for bird and wildlife watching.

The flat, gentle gradient is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies, but help may be needed in some places for wheelchair users.

For a longer journey, you can walk past the colourful Camborne boatsheds, and connect up with Camborne Walkway at the western end of the inlet.

Getting there

Wooden boardwalk curving through tussocks next to Pāuatahanui inlet. Blue sky.

What to expect

Te Ara Piko is a flat, step-free wetland walkway along Porirua Harbour, stretching between the Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve and the Wellington Jet Sport Club.

Know before you go

  • Get ready using Plan My Walk by the NZ Mountain Safety Council for track alerts, weather forecasts, trip reviews and a packing list.
  • The trail is suitable for children and most levels of fitness.
  • Avoid streams during heavy rain.

For more tips and advice before heading out on Wellington’s trails check out our before you go section.

Looking for more?

At start of items
A section of the Bothamley Park Walkway. A gravel path surrounded by native New Zealand bush.

Bothamley Park Walkway

The trail follows an old farm track along Kenepuru Stream and through large exotic trees and regenerated bush.

Colourful boatsheds line the edge of a blue body of water with rolling hills in the background.

Camborne Walkway

An easy route around the Pāuatahanui Inlet past the iconic Camborne boatsheds.

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Coast 35

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Spicer Link

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The Te Ara Tai Tonga trail at Ngā Ara o Rangituhi.

Te Ara Tai Tonga

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The view of rolling grassy hills, and native New Zealand bush under a blue sly with scattered white clouds from the Ara Harakeke Path.

Ara Harakeke Pathway

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Greytown to Woodside Trail

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Ōtaki River Trail

Follow the banks of the Ōtaki River on this popular walking and biking trail, with views of the coastline, river, and the Tararua Range.