Walking New Zealand November 2022

Walk talk Wellington and Auckland were among the 90 cities for cycling on the Global Bicycle Index, ranking at 30 and 49. This year's Global Bicycle Index ranked 90 cities worldwide to see which are the friendliest for cyclists. The index scored the cities based on the percentage of bicycle users, crime, and safety, infrastructure, weather conditions, bike-sharing opportunities, and cycling-related events. Cities in Europe topped the list of bike-friendly places thanks to high-quality bicycling infrastructure like bike lanes and weather conditions that include a high number of “cycleable” days. No. 1 most bike-friendly city in the world: Utrecht, Netherlands…

Does your bike need a bit of a spruce up? Or do you fancy a cycle to the beach? How about seeing a documentary about a mother and cargo bikes? There's something for everyone in the more than 50 events planned for this year's Biketober celebrations in Christchurch. The month-long festival of cycling is back from Saturday 1 October for its sixth year with a calendar full of locally-run events. “Biketober has a huge range of events on for everyone who rides a bike for whatever reason, whether it be recreational or commuting,” Transport Operations Manager Stephen Wright says. “It's also a great chance to explore the city's cycleways.” The Bike Rave is also back for its fourth year. A bike DJ will pump music along the route to create…

Visitors to Mount Taranaki are being urged to obey the rules and leave their family pets at home, after DOC staff observed jacket-wearing domestic cats being taken into Egmont National Park. DOC Senior Ranger Dave Rogers says one of DOC's staff did a double-take when she encountered pet cats wearing jackets and being carried in backpacks by their human owners on Mount Taranaki. Cats and all other domestic animals are not allowed in the National Park as they pose a threat to endangered birds such as kiwi and whio, and other native species including geckos and insects. The cats were in the carpark at North Egmont and were being put into the backpacks by their owners when approached by the ranger. The owners, visitors from Auckland, said they weren't aware…

Gemtree Wines on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia has launched the new Wuldi Cultural Experience in partnership with Ngarrindjeri elder Mark Koolmatrie from Kool Tours. Koolmatrie guides clients along the Gemtree eco-trail sharing ancient stories of his people and exploring the responsibilities of caring for the land, waters and eco-system. The tour finishes with a native food plate and optional flight of Gemtree's biodynamic wines. gemtreewines.com/markkoolmatrie-wuldi-culturalexperience/…

Murray River Trails (MRT) has a new tour linking the Murray River in South Australia from the Riverland to the Coorong and Murray Mouth. Safari to River's End is a five-day four-night tour that enables guests to experience two contrasting river landscapes in absolute luxury, from the redgum and red cliff lined Murray River to the spectacular white sands and dunes of the Coorong and the Murray Mouth. Safari to River's End links the aboriginal cultures of Erawirung Country at Renmark down through the lands of the Ngangaruku people near Mannum and into the Ngarrindjeri Nation at the river's end at Goolwa, where aboriginal elders share stories with guests on the journey. The new tour also links two wetlands of international importance – the Riverland Ramsar wetland and the Coorong…

Self-guided walk operator, On Foot Holidays, has launched a new hiking route in the subtropical Canary Islands. The new walk on the remote Atlantic isle of La Gomera – a Spanish Territory off the west coast of Africa – brings to 35 the number of self-guided hikes UK based On Foot Holidays offers in 11 countries, with the other routes all in continental Europe or the UK. Curated for independent travellers, the La Gomera hike sees walkers stay at a series of rural B&Bs with luggage transferred between accommodation Hiking Canary Islands with On Foot Holidays On Foot Holidays has a new trek in La Gomera while they explore the island on foot. Available from November 2022 to May 2023, and from October 2023 to May, 2024, the circular route…