Picton, The Link Pathway

Our Stay in Picton

After our night in Blenheim, at Rita’s CAP (see our blog South Island Bound), we headed back to Picton.  It was only a short drive so we had plenty of time to get to our destination which was Whatamango Bay DOC Camping Ground.

Whatamango

Whatamango Bay is approximately 13km past Picton following the coastline.  It is a sealed but windy narrow road but we just took our time and managed it without any problems. 

The peace and tranquillity right on our doorstep

The entry into the camp is a little challenging for larger, longer vehicles.  We had to drive past the camp and there is a side road just 100 metres further up the road where we could turn around.  It was much easier entering from this direction to get a good swing into the camp entry.  It was $8pp per night each.  This was our home for two nights.

It is a large open space with patches of plantings of flax and natives which is handy to offer shelter from the winds coming from the Cook Straight.

The ground is relatively hard, even after rainfall.  Care needs to be taken, however, as there are areas where water lies and can be a bit boggy.

It was good to see that a Ranger called in every evening and morning, doing her rounds to make sure everyone staying was registered and had paid.  We had a good chat with her and she was saying that the most common problem is with people not registering on arrival, especially if they have a DOC Pass.  It is important that she knows who is staying in the park at any given time, especially for safety requirements.

Although we do not hold a DOC Pass it was good to know in case we decide to purchase one to use later in the year.

Prime waterfront spot

We had a prime waterfront spot.  We never had neighbours as there were boggy patches around us which didn’t pose any problems for us with our off-road capabilities.  A different story for other campervans who would have struggled to be able to cross the softer patches.  We parked on a good firm patch which offered us views to the mouth of the cove.

There were clean toilet facilities, tap water (non-drinking without boiling) and no dogs allowed.

The Link Pathway

We have been reading on FB and following the progress of The Link Pathway.

The Link Pathway project began in 2005 and has progressed section by section.  It is a 42km walking and cycling trail between Picton and Havelock.

Keep an eye out for the signage along the trail

We loaded the bikes on the ute and drove into Picton and parked across the road from the Bluebridge offices ($6 for all day parking).  The start of the pathway is just to the left of their parking area and winds it’s way up to the lookout point.  It’s a little confusing at this point as a sign states that a small wooden ramp is NOT for The Link Pathway.  It does, in fact, connect you to the track you need to take to continue.

The views start at the lookout near the beginning of the trail

Picton to Ngakuta Bay

We cycled approximately 11kms to Ngakuta Bay.  Because we stopped at nearly every photo opportunity (which there are many), it took us 2 hours one way.  The track was quite boggy and muddy in places, thanks to some heavy showers a couple of days prior.  This made for some ‘slippery’ moments on the bike so extra care was needed.

The changing views as we cycled along was just stunning.  It seemed over every hill and corner offered up a different view across many bays and coves of the Malborough Sounds.

One of the many viewpoints over the Marlborough Sounds

Apart from a couple of road crossings, The Link Pathway is completely off-road cycling (well, the section we cycled) so you needn’t worry about navigating traffic.  Being mid-week there were only a couple of other cyclists and walkers.

We stopped at Ngakuta Bay to have our lunch as we overlooked this beautiful little bay.

Plenty of bays and scenery to take in

We would have loved to continue along the track but decided to head back to Picton.  We are certainly going to return to ride more of this trail sometime in the future.

Click on the video below to see some of our highlights of Whatamango Bay and The Link Pathway.