Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2023 i Walking New Zealand

Walking and cycling are fundamental to how urban New Zealanders get around according to the latest report from our ongoing survey looking at attitudes towards, and rates of walking and cycling in six New Zealand cities. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed said they cycled or walked regularly during 2022, which continues to grow on pre-COVID levels, which sat at 65% in 2019. This latest research shows that some good progress has been made in terms of increases in walking and cycling over time, but there is still loads of potential for more people to travel under their own steam. NZ Transport Agency is currently working alongside partners to develop national walking and cycling plans, which will give us the pathway to significantly increase the safety and attractiveness of these active…

High Achievers June this year marked 10 years since a small group of dedicated Aucklanders started tending the heritage gardens surrounding Mansion House on Kawau Island, north of Auckland. DOC recognised the gardening volunteers’ contribution to conserving the heritage site during National Volunteer Week between 18-24 June 2023. Over 30 volunteers attended the June gardening day to mow lawns, prune, weed, collect debris and propagate new plants from specimens that link back to plants introduced over 150 years ago. DOC Operations Manager Kat Lane, says volunteers play a vital role in protecting natur al and heritage sites across the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Kat said that DOC are very thankful for the support and expertise of the gardening group volunteers. By the end of this year, DOC are estimating…

New Zealand Walk The Wairere Falls the highest waterfall in the North Island, is just a 10 minutes’ drive from Matamata and is a very popular walking track in the Waikato. The return hike to the viewing platform at the base of the Wairere Falls takes about an hour and a half. It is an attractive walk along a well maintained track. Small wooden bridges take you across the stream at several points, affording lovely views of little cascades and providing opportunities to cool tired feet in the refreshing water. The sight from the viewing platform is spectacular. Water plunges 153 metres over the falls, before forming little streamlets that flow through moss covered rocks and ferns. You may be interested in climbing to the waterfall's top that can take…

New Zealand Walks Tongariro National Park is home to Mordor, Emyn Muil and Mount Doom, and some of New Zealand's most incredible scenery. When you look around, it will immediately become obvious why the volcanic rock formations, barren hills and eerie, ash landscapes were chosen as settings for the home of Lord Sauron and many sinister scenes in the Lord of the Rings movies. The Rangipo Desert was the backdrop to the armies of Orcs in the storming of the Black Gate, while the stunning symmetrical cone of Mt Ngauruhoe was digitally crafted to create Mount Doom itself, the place where the one ring was forged and ultimately destroyed! Mt Ruapehu is the setting for the treacherous labyrinth of cliffs and ravines of Emyn Muil, where Sam and Frodo realise…

For a brief nature walk in bush that's perfect for a short respite from suburbia St Johns Bush is a true hidden gem in central Auckland! Start your bushwalk from Ripon Crescent, St Johns Road or Gowing Drive (on-street parking is available). The gravel and boardwalk path has a few steps, and a bridge over a small stream. Follow the signs through the reserve. Whichever way you enter, you can exit onto a residential street or walk back the way you came. The bush reserve is an important ecological sanctuary, with mature and regenerating groves of native trees. More than 160 different species of plants have been identified. The North Island kākā (a native parrot) sometimes stops off in St Johns Bush on the way to the Whangaparāoa Peninsula in…

New Zealand Walk Walking from Wellington Railway Station to Oriental Bay along the Wellington Waterfront is a delightful experience that offers stunning views and various attractions. Starting from the Wellington Railway Station here is a pedestrian crossing from the station to the sea side of Customhouse Quay. You may soon see on your left one the Bluebridge ships in port, while further along the Sweet Georgia a boat that takes walkers to the Marlborough Sounds and acts as their accommodation while they are there. The ferry terminal to Days Bay and Sommes Island comes into view while you may see the electric ferry being charged further along. Feeling like a coffee break there are a number of cafes and restaurants on Queens Wharf an historic wharf often hosts events, markets,…

Walmsley and Underwood Park, Totara Park and North Shore Memorial Park have joined seven other Auckland Council parks as being recognised as some of the best green spaces in the world in the annual Green Flag Awards. The Green Flag Award scheme is an international quality mark for parks and green spaces, which assesses parks on criteria such as quality of services, safety, maintenance, community involvement and sustainability. Auckland Council parks have consistently been awarded Green Flags since 2016, setting a standard for excellence in public parks and providing quality outdoor spaces across Tāmaki Makaurau. Taryn Crewe, Auckland Council's General Manager for Parks and Community Facilities, is pleased that Auckland is yet again being commended.…

Taranaki's Around the Mountain Circuit has been closed until further notice due to severe storm damage and constant erosion. Sections of the track have been wiped out when rviewed by DOC in May. DOC staff made the call to close the Stony River/ Hangatahua Route along the Around the Mountain Circuit. The closure of the route means trampers cannot complete the full circuit. “The route has become unsafe for trampers due to erosion and the ongoing risk of rock fall,” says DOC's Taranaki Operations Manager Gareth Hopkins. Although the closure will disappoint some visitors to Egmont National Park, the risk of serious injury to trampers is significant. Currently it is not possible to reroute or repair the track, says Gareth Hopkins. The closure will be reviewed in six months when…

I had an eerie feeling a few weekends ago. I was running along some trails near my home, and I suddenly realised I couldn't hear any noise – there were no birds or insects. It felt unsettling and wrong. Luckily it was a short aberration. Generally, the birds are all around me, hidden in the trees and bush. It's almost common knowledge that being out in nature is good for our wellbeing — not just our physical health, but our mental wellbeing too. Less well known, however, is that contact with birds is an important source of this wellbeing effect. A recent study in Nature showed that, on average, research participants who saw or heard birds reported their mental wellbeing improved and remained better for several hours. The buds also…

New Zealand Short Walk Carter Scenic Reserve is one of the few remaining remnants of patchwork landscape once typical of the Wairarapa – grass, wetland, shrub land, and forest. It is home to native birds, fish, lizards, and endangered plants.. In 1896 Charles Rooking Carter made provision in his will for the protection of part of his estate and it was gazetted as a reserve in 1921. This area of swamp and semiswamp forest on two old terraces of the Ruamahanga River represents a patchwork landscape that was once typical of the Wairarapa – grass, wetland, shrubland, and forest. Because Carter Reserve offers such a variety of habitat types, it has become a haven for some of the plants and animals that became extinct or reduced to low numbers through…

New Zealand Walks Water features abound – solid, liquid and gas, each with charms “to soothe the savage breast.” Those who ascend towards the snow and ice atop Ruapehu's mountain roads find a magic playground for perambulations. My favourite is the trail past the Rotokawa tarn and Waitonga Falls to Blyth Hut – a truly blithe undertaking (8km,three hours return). A leisurely lope around Lake Rotopounamu (5km,two hours), an emerald jewel nestled in the side of graceful Pihanga, cannot help but infuse serenity. Opotaka is a pa site where you can learn about the history of the famous Ka Mate haka, see the remains of the Maori settlement, and enjoy inspiring views across Lake Rotoaira, as it welcomes water from the Whakapapa, Whanganui, Moawhango and Tongariro rivers before gently disgorging…

When visiting Sydney, Australia, why not take an opportunity to join in and do what the locals do, the Bondi to Coogee Walk. This is a popular coastal walk offering beautiful coastline vistas, cosy beaches and cafe strips for refuelling. It is six kilometres long and takes about two to three hours to complete at a good pace, but you can break it up with a freshly squeezed juice or a relaxed coffee, then finish with a swim at Coogee Beach. The walk begins at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach, a National Surfing Reserve and a great place to try surfing for the first time. You soon pass the stunning Bondi Icebergs swimming club – one of Australia's most photographed pools – onto a paved path that will take you around…

New Zealand Walk Right in the heart of Albany, Auckland and awaiting your discovery is beautiful Albany Lakes Civic Park. The park was officially opened in November 2009 and is located adjacent to the Westfield Albany Shopping Centre. The 6.4ha park represents a visionary investment on the part of the North Shore City Council. A team of landscapers, architects and developers planned the park as a cultural, social and ecological enrichment of the new Albany town centre, drawing on Albany's heritage, from Maori settlement to its days as an orchard area. The park features two large stormwater lakes, a culturally inspired bridge, a water feature and a stage for outdoor events. The stage forms the hub for the Westfield Albany Lakes Summer Series. The landscaping of the park is particularly…

New Zealand Walks Treat yourself to a civilised adventure on New Zealand's finest coastal Great Walk. Let Wilson Abel Tasman take care of the details and free up your time to reconnect with the important things in life, friends, and family. Escape the stresses of modern living and revive on this three or five-day Great Walk that features a well-formed track shaded by lush native forest and weaving between sheltered golden-sand beaches. See the spectacular granite coast from a different perspective with sea kayaking options. Experience the tranquillity of the National Park after most visitors have left for the day. There is no need to travel out of the park if you want a touch of luxury compared to staying overnight at Department of Conservation huts or campsites along the…

“It's only a matter of time before the roads are too busy, and after COVID, we've all realised how important it is to be within commuting distance. It's good for everything, your health, your work-life balance, your wellbeing,” says Shelley's partner, Gary Heaven. Shelley Trotter, owner of Solway Deer Farm has a goal to connect Snells Beach and Warkworth with public access trails. Solway Deer Farm will potentially host up to 4 km of trail. Providing important off-road connections between Warkworth, Snells Beach and Matakana. But Shelley and Gary aren't just connecting towns, they're connecting communities. There are 7.8km between Snells Beach and Warkworth but “we're only 3 to 4 km either side, so we're in the best place,” says Shelley. Shelley and Gary have been nestled in rural North…

New Zealand Walk On Motukiore Island in the Whangarei Harbour there is a 2km walk that has a fascinating history, being both an important vantage point for Maori in prehistoric tunes, and a focus of early European industry in Whangarei Harbour. The Motukiore Island Track is graded as a walking track. The Motukiore Island track leads from the grass car park by the Pines Golf Club to Motukiore Island via the low tide causeway. The track meanders around the coastline to the causeway. At the start you will walk over a gravel path that is well marked with orange markers along a rocky shoreline and through mangrove swamp. (It is almost inevitable at any stage of the tide that uour shoes will get wet). After a final short climb to…

New Zealand Walks A must-do walk when you are in the Manawatu is the Te Āpiti – Manawatū Gorge Track walk that is an icon and the divider of the Manawatū and Hawke's Bay regions. Nestled between two mountain ranges, there are few places in New Zealand where within 12 minutes from a major city you can enjoy one of our country's most iconic natural playgrounds. Covered in ancient bush and home to a variety of wildlife, the Manawatū Gorge is steeped in legend and has many stories to tell. Explore the walking tracks and you'll come face to face with the sculpture of Whātonga, an ancient warrior who stands guard over the forest. The main walking track is 11.2km in length and takes you high above the river and…

Overseas Walk We recently visited Upolu island in Samoa, and spent a morning walking up Mt Vaea in Valima National Reserve. This reserve, not far from Apia, is mostly covered in dense tropical rainforest. At the base of the mountain, a driveway leads through tropical gardens to the Homestead museum of Robert Louis Stevenson, set in park like grounds. Born in Edinborough in 1850, Robert Louis Stevenson ranks among the top most translated authors in the world, his most popular works being Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Suffering from poor health, he spent three years travelling through the South Pacific, searching for a warmer climate; before settling in Samoa, where he built a house and remained there the rest of his life. There, he wrote travel…

TRAINING Have you ever thought you would like to walk a marathon or even a half marathon to start with. do not know where to start. Walking a half marathon is a commendable goal for a beginner! To prepare for and successfully complete a half marathon walk, here are 12 steps you can follow: Consult with a healthcare professional: Before starting any new exercise program, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or concerns. Set a realistic timeline: Give yourself an ample amount of time to train and build up your endurance gradually. Aim for at least 12-16 weeks of consistent training. Establish a training schedule: Create a training plan that includes regular walking sessions throughout the week. Ideally, you should…