A Bridge Too Far: The Maungatapu Murders

Join us on a new adventure with an audio-guide-with-pictures to take you back in time.

The best way to get the full experience is to download the PickPath app – remember, if you don’t like having loads of apps on your phone, you can always delete it after you’ve finished the walk.

You can enjoy the experience anywhere and anytime on any device, at your own pace. You can follow the story directly through your internet browser without using the PickPath app, but using the app really does give the best experience.

Click here or scan the QR code to get started!

How it works
– Scan the QR code to get set-up with the Pickpath app.
– Grab your phone and headphones/earbuds and head to 1 Bridge Street, Nelson
– The walk is 45-60mins along Bridge Street, finishing at Albion Square.
– Headphones are recommended, but not required.
– Pause, wander and restart as you please.

One last tip for during the roadworks along Bridge St
In 2026-2027, Bridge Street is undergoing the “Bridge to Better” infrastructure improvements. It’s a bit of a mess! So we really recommend using the map on the app – it has the most current updates for pedestrian access along Bridge Street.

Make sure the location services are enabled on your phone so that you can access the app’s interactive map, which will guide you along the route.

The Tale
Step into the year 1866, when four outlaws swaggered down Bridge Street, their pockets heavy with stolen goods and their confidence riding high, certain they could get away with murder. Did their boldness take them a bridge too far?

This is a walk through one of Nelson’s darkest stories. Follow the suspects, and uncover how the community came together to bring justice to the slain.

What people are saying
The PickPath experience A Bridge Too Far: The Maungatapu Murders has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from early reviewers, including sector leaders, cultural partners, and contributors involved in its development.

Mark Hadlow praised both the production quality and user experience, stating: “This is bloody excellent! The way it’s all put together with photos is great! Well done to the team.”

Joel Baxendale, PickPath Founder, highlighted the project as an exemplar for digital storytelling:“Congratulations! The experience looks fantastic. I might even go so far to say an example of best practice, so hats off to you.”

Julie Catchpole, previous director of the Suter Art Gallery, reflected on the richness of the content:“This has kept me entertained and morbidly enthralled. A wealth of images. Mark Hadlow is a marvellous narrator. I learnt so much.”

Lucinda Jimson, Chief Executive of Nelson Provincial Museum, commended the tone and narrative structure: “Well done – the tone is good and the sensational story rolls out like the plot of movie while confidently managing the switch of locations and filling in details of how people lived then and the various backstories.”