Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2023 i Walking New Zealand

Streets for People projects underway At the end of 2022, the first Streets for People projects got underway as the programme moves from the pre-implementation phase and onto streets in 13 councils across New Zealand. On 15 December, Timaru District Council launched the Port Loop Road Shared Path Trial. The project will explore safe and convenient ways for pedestrians, cyclists and other active modes to move between Caroline Bay, the Port, coastal trails and the Timaru city centre via the Strathallan footbridge. Then on 16 December, the Tairāwhiti Adventure Trust held the Awa to Moana Grey Street Food Festival in Gisborne to begin community engagement around the re-envisioning of Grey Street. The Trust and Gisborne District Council are working to make a new skate park and pump track easier and…

The Matherson Bay Bush Walk is 1.3km there and back trail in Leigh, north of Auckland. It is considered an easy route, and takes an average of 21 minutes to complete. It is popular trail for hiking and walking. From Matheson Bay beach, this beautiful bush walk begins at the flat grassed reserve on the west side of the Kohuroa Stream. There are some steep sections as the track follows the stream and a series of waterfalls. Native bush includes mature kauri, pohutukawa, rimu, totara and kaihikatea trees. Forest & Bird has placed some tree identification signs. There are also many nikau palms and ferns. The track has good boardwalks and steps through the steepest parts. At a large swimming hole there is a rope from a tree to swing…

The 2.5km loop track to Donnelly Flat passes through some of the best mixed podocarp/ broadleaf forest in the Tararua Range. This short, easy walk with a picnic area and stream on route is a great option for kids. Walk across the Atiwhakatu footbridge and follow the relatively flat track to Donnelly Flat where there is an attractive picnic area and campsite with access to Atiwhakatu Stream. Stop there for a snack and a paddle and from there you can loop back to the car park via the Gentle Annie Track. Allow one hour for walking. Dogs are allowed but on a leash. Getting there The trail starts from the entrance to Tararua Forest Park on Mount Holdsworth Road a few miles south of Masterton in the Wairarapa.. To get…

Mt Favourite Walk The Hillary Trail across Auckland's Waitākere Ranges was on my 'to be walked' list for a few years. I had explored some of the popular day walks out that way including Karamatura, Mt. Donald McLean and Muir tracks. I had also walked back and forwards from Piha to Karekare a few times as well. The Auckland Council website used to say of 'the Hilary' - "a spectacular tramping trip through native forest and wild coast line of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park." It was officially one of New Zealand's 'Great Walks'. This is the mana whenua of Te Kawerau a Maki iwi. Of course more recently kauri die back has changed that, and the more recent message is: "Closure of Hillary Trail - As we are currently…

With some 4000 entries, 200 volunteer s and thousands of spectators, the 41st Christchurch Marathon will once again be one of the South Island's most colourful community occasions bringing together runner s and walkers from all walks of life. On April 16th the new-look Frontrunner Christchurch Marathon will go to the start line at a new venue, on a new course and with a new sponsor. While the event will also double as the New Zealand Marathon Championship, for most people it is a personal challenge taken on for as many reasons as there are runners. At age 73, Picton's Marg Hazelwood is taking a shot at becoming the eldest ever female finisher of the featur e 42k distance in Christchurch. Not that it'll be that big a deal for…

NZ shared Trail Meandering 9km along the coastline east of Ōpōtiki in the eastern Bay of Plenty, the Dunes Trail is part of the Motu Trails Great Ride, a popular journey for both cyclists and walkers. Now there's an option to extend the coastal wandering, with the Waiotahe Trail heading along the coast — west of Ōpōtiki. The new Waiotahe Trail is a mostly flat gravel trail that stretches 9km from the SH2 Waioeka bridge, on the entrance to Ōpōtiki, out to Te Ahiaua/the Pipi beds. Heading back into town, from the Waioeka Bridge, the Waioeka Trail links with the Dunes Trail. Writing at the end of March 2023, the Waiotahe Trail still has some finishing work to do, and trail signage for both Waiotahe and Waioeka Trails is in…

New Zealand Walk The Waikato River Walking Track walk begins at the Huka Falls carpark about eight kilometres north from Taupo and ends at Otupo Flat and the walk takes about an hour return. Most people have probably crossed the bridge over the falls and walked along the other side of the Waikato River, but the Waikato River Walking Track walk offers a different prospective of the falls. Five minutes down the track there is a grassed area with a good view back to the Huka Falls. From here there is a short steep climb up to a road then the track drops again to the river and ambles along through a variety of terrain and vegetation. There are several short side tracks to points of interest along the way.…

Australian Walks If ever there was a place where you can happily and seamlessly integrate walking with a whole range of other diversions, Norfolk Island is that place. The September 2022 issue of "Walking" magazine introduced us to the delights of Norfolk Island, describing it as "360 degrees of wonder" and a place for "all year round walking and hiking." Since that article detailed its walks admirably, this one will focus on its more quirky character, in the hope that you will be enticed to not only go there to perambulate but also to appreciate it as an incredibly unique and fascinating place. Many people know about its beauty - that's a hard one to miss! And most people know rough details about the history of the Island - that…

Cyclists and trampers in the Nelson region have better access to the outdoors thanks to Bill Gilbertson's generosity of spirit and lifetime of hard work. His inspirational contributions to Nelson's Great Taste Trail and access improvements to the Abel Tasman National Park are just two highlights from a long career in outdoor recreation and conservation. The Outdoor Access Commission, is acknowledging Gilbertson's substantial contributions to public outdoor access in New Zealand with an Outdoor Access Champion award he received last month. Chief executive officer, Ric Cullinane, commends Gilbertson's enthusiastic and formidable career. "Bill's thoughtful leadership and hard graft bring people together and help get trails built," says Cullinane. Gilbertson has guided a plethora of environment-related organisations and initiatives. He was a conservation board member and national park management plan convenor…

Nordic Walking Nordic Walking is a fitness activity that enhances the natural walking movement by the addition of specifically designed walking poles. Nordic Walking has become a worldwide phenomenon as people discover the health and fitness benefits of this unique and effective form of exercise. While Nordic Walking is first and foremost a fitness activity, many health benefits have been attributed to this exercise. Walking with Nordic Walking poles involves the use of the arms and upper body, thereby increasing the energy (calorie) expenditure. You are using 90% of your muscles 100% of the time! It is highly recommended that you learn Nordic Walking from a certified Instructor, to ensure you get the best instruction. Once you have learned the correct technique, you can gain more effective energy usage (>20%)…

The Leigh Coastal Walkway winds around a stunning coastline is edged with large pohutukawa trees that bloom bright red in early summer. Views include Omaha Bay, Tawharanui Regional Park, Coromandel Peninsula, Little Barrier (Hauturu) and Great Barrier (Aotea) islands. Dolphins, orca and whales are regularly seen from the coast. This walk can start at either the Leigh Cemetery on Harbour View Road or from the bottom of Wonderview Road and also accessed from the following roads: Kyle, Penguin, Cotterell, Kowhai, Cumberland and Harbour View. You can do it all or just part of it. If starting at Wonderview Road. Directly ahead, steps lead to Crabb Bay. (At low or mid tide, continue on to Matheson Bay around the rocks. 30 minutes.) To the right, a short track overlooks Daniels Reef,…

Overseas Walks We recently spent a couple of days in Albany at the extreme south of Western Australia. It wasn't nearly long enough to do justice to the wealth of walking and exploring in the area. This town has such a fascinating history. Our accommodation was near Middleton Beach, so all the walks were close by. Our first wander was around Lake Sepping, a tranquil spot with a circuit walk under shady trees, beside wetlands full of birds. Over 100 species of birds visit here and there are several lookouts and a bird hide. From here we wandered on to Middleton Beach. It extends about 4.5 kms from Emu Point in the east to Ellen Cove at the western end. It is a truly beautiful beach - wild flowers on…

Auckland Dog Walks Making the most of the great outdoors often means having our canine companions with us - but there are rules for dog walking in public places like parks, reserves, pathways, beaches and tūpuna rnaunga (ancestral mountains) across Auckland. In general, dogs must be on-leash at all times in all council-controlled public places with unrestricted access. It's a little different for beaches, where summer and winter restrictions apply. Throughout the summer months, until 1 March, dogs were not allowed on most beaches between 10am to 5pm, with off-leash walks and exercise allowed outside these hours, and more relaxed winter horns began on 2 March. Remember that even though your dog is off-leash you'll need to make sure they are still under' control. It's best to visit Auckland Council's…