Otago Harbour shared path opened to the public

A shared walking and bicycle pathway running ‘port to port’ around Dunedin’s Otago Harbour has been opened.

Known as Te Aka Ōtākou (The Otago Vine), the full trail runs from Port Chalmers to beyond Portobello.

The name for the shared pathway was designated by the Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou iwi (tribal group), with the recent naming announcement coming as Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency neared completion of construction of final sections of the shared path.

Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships, James Caygill advised “the Port Chalmers to St Leonards part of the path presented many challenges given the lack of space for the path in a demanding coastal marine environment.

“It involved reclaiming areas of the harbour, realigning sections of the main trunk rail line, building several major retaining walls, and a new 600-metre plus boardwalk to carry the cycle path around the edge of Blanket Bay.

“We have incorporated the story of Matamata, a guardian taniwha for the harbour, into the Roseneath cutting panels and our crews and contractors have worked closely with the harbour communities and KiwiRail throughout.

“It is an amazing project which will benefit people across many generations."

Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich says he is also excited to see the Dunedin City Council’s contribution to the wider project, adding "it's fantastic to see so many people already using the shared path on a regular basis. As it nears completion, I expect that number to increase even more.

“It is also instructive to see the cultural values of mana whenua expressed in the names chosen for this much-loved development.”

The Peninsula Connection shared pathway, through to Portobello on the Te Awa Ōtākou side of the trail, is expected to be completed by mid-2024.

Images: The new Te Aka Ōtākou trail. Credit: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.