Te Ara Piko Walkway

The Te Ara Piko pathway offers one of the best long walks in the Porirua region, taking you along the entire northern side of the Pāuatahanui Inlet across diverse and stunning terrain.

Linking up with the Camborne walkway through to Paremata, these paths span 6.8km and take around an hour and a half one-way. A flat, easy gradient suitable for bikes, buggies and wheelchairs, it’s a safe and accessible way for the whole family to explore the Pāuatahanui Inlet, with seating areas and plenty of toilets available along the way too.

Start at Dolly Varden Beach in Paremata, picking up a coffee from Little Green Olive if you need a caffeine boost. Peruse the picturesque boat sheds along the Camborne section of the walkway before you connect to the main Te Ara Piko path, then explore Motukaraka Point and continue through to the majestic Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve.

With the pathway hugging the water’s edge for much of the journey, you’re treated to spectacular views of the harbour. Well-maintained bridges and stretches of boardwalk help you traverse indigenous salt marshes and wetland habitat. Bird and wildlife enthusiasts are in for an extra treat, with plenty of native plants, birds and other species dotted around the area. Keep an eye out for mud crabs along the bridges, and make sure you explore the handy bird-viewing hides once you reach the wildlife reserve. You’re sure to spot the white-faced herons, oystercatchers, royal spoonbills, banded dotterels and many other birds that call the inlet home.

The gentle, leisurely walk is a great day out for the family, and can be as short or as long as you want—there are few better ways to explore one of the Porirua region’s most fascinating ecosystems.