A popular picnic and paddling area with views of the inner harbour, Rangiwaea and Matakana Island.
Update – Ōtūmoetai/Matua coastal pathway (Beach Road) upgrades (starting 5 August 2024)
Starting from Monday, 5 August 2024, work will begin on a section of the coastal pathway (Beach Road) to improve accessibility and to make it safer to use.
We will be replacing the concrete path with a wider 3.6m timber boardwalk, aiming to have it ready for summer. During the works, this section of the pathway will be closed. An alternative route is available to access the other side of the pathway.
Map showing alternative route:
Ōtūmoetai and Matua Reserves walkways map (167kb pdf)
Walking time:
Maxwells Rd to Kulim Park: 15 mins
Kulim Park to Beach Rd Reserve: 10 mins
Beach Rd Reserve to Fergusson Park: 15 mins
Matua Saltmarsh: 15 mins
New addition to Papahenga - Matua Saltmarsh walkway
A new 200-metre boardwalk from Elmes Reserve to Bay Street has been added, completing the walkway around Papahenga - Matua Saltmarsh from Carlton Reserve to Bay Street Reserve.
Read more about the boardwalk and the saltmarsh.
The walkway extends from Carlton Reserve to Bay Street Reserve.
Piles for the boardwalk were helicoptered onto the site and the design considered the impact on the native vegetation.
Papahenga - Matua Saltmarsh is a 21-hectare coastal wetland which helps enrich the quality of our harbour, protects our coast from erosion and provides a habitat for many species of plants, fish and birds, including the banded rail and North Island fernbird.
The new boardwalk was blessed by representatives from one of the local hapū, Ngāi Tūkairangi, and the opening marked with the planting of a native Rimu tree.