Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2026 i Walking New Zealand

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Walk talk

The Longwoods Forest Regeneration Project The Longwoods section of Te Araroa is one of the toughest parts of the trail. For many walkers, it's a slog through deep mud and widening bogs, with little respite. The Te Araroa Trust is committed to changing that – but it won't happen overnight. This is a multi-year project, and phase one starts now. With the public's help, they will begin work on 1000m of raised timber boardwalks to make the trail safer, more enjoyable, and better for the environment. Their goal for this phase is to fundraise $30,000 to install as much boardwalk as possible this season. Every metre counts toward reducing damage, protecting fragile wetlands, and improving the experience for walkers. Quirky history tour available in Mandurah An e-bike tour with a…

4 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Walking the landscapes: ECHO Walking Festival

The landscape from the Coromandel to Te Puke offers a remarkable diversity of walking experiences, where sweeping coastlines meet lush native bush. From the rugged tracks of the Kaimai Range and the dramatic beauty of Karangahake Gorge to coastal paths shaped by wind and sea, these landscapes are rich with cultural stories and tales of the region's mining past. The ECHO Walking Festival brings these stories and places together, offering a programme of walks led by knowledgeable guides who invite walkers to explore, connect and truly experience this special part of Aotearoa. Running from 20 March – 19 April 2026, ECHO provides walkers of all abilities and ages the opportunity to explore and learn about this unique part of our country. With 44 walks ranging from short, gentle outings to…

3 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

From seething surf to mountain marvels

May 2026 could be an exciting month for you. It may be that life has become a little dull, or you are dreading the onset of a cold winter But, if we may say so, there is the opportunity to escape to better prospects! Come what may, you can decide to join the fabulous Footsteps walking tour to Southeast Queensland scheduled for 9-24 May, 2026, two glorious weeks exploring the splendours of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, ex-Brisbane. You may as well! As the capital of Queensland, Brisbane (2.5 million people) is a vibrant city worth visiting. The city's iconic attractions include the Story Bridge, South Bank Parklands, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and D'Aguilar National Park. The Brisbane Riverwalk stands over the New Farm stretch of the Brisbane…

5 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Walking the four Whangārei Falls tracks - my day out at Otuihau

There's something irresistible about a place where a river drops off a basalt lip and the forest leans in close to listen. I spent a day exploring the four main walks around Whangārei Falls / Ptauihau and if you're anything like me you'll come away with wet shoes, a camera full of waterfall shots, and a stubborn grin. Below I recount my experience on each walk, with practical details: distances, typical times, track conditions, what to look out for, and how to get there. Whangārei Falls sits just north of the city, about a 10-minute drive from the town centre. There's a free public car park off Boundary Road/ Ngunguru Road with picnic tables, toilets and a convenient launch point for all four walks. The falls themselves are around 26…

5 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Muriwai Gannet Walk to spectacular bird life

Walking to see the Muriwai Gannet Colony is one of the most rewarding short coastal experiences near Auckland, offering visitors a dramatic blend of rugged West Coast scenery and spectacular birdlife. Located at Ōtakamiro Point above Muriwai Beach, this colonial gathering of Australasian gannets attracts nature lovers, photographers, and families from around New Zealand and overseas. From the Muriwai Beach car park at the end of Motutara Road or the Maukatia (Māori Bay) car park, you can embark on a delightful coastal walk up to the gannet viewing platforms. The most direct and popular route, the Takapu Refuge Walk, is approximately 1.5 km return (about 30 to 45 minutes) on a well-formed boardwalk and gravel path Along the way you'll pass breathtaking views of the black sand beach and Tasman…

3 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Red Rocks Coastal Walk - a wild south coast experience

Just a short 20 minute drive or bus ride from Wellington's urban heart lies one of the region's most rewarding coastal walks: the Red Rocks Coastal Walk to Pariwhero / Red Rocks. With dramatic geological scenery, sweeping views across Cook Strait and a seasonal fur seal colony, this is a quintessential Wellington walk that's easy to fit into a half-day adventure. Starting from the Te Kopahou Visitor Centre car park at the end of Ōwhiro Bay Parade, the trail follows an unsealed 4WD road and coastal track along the south-facing shore towards Sinclair Head (often called Devil's Gate). This is a largely flat coastal walk, ideal for most walkers and families, with a return distance of around 7.4 km taking 2–3 hours at a relaxed pace. Depending on your energy…

2 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Taihape offers a hill and river walk

Taihape in the Rangitikei, features two pleasant walking opportunities both close to the town centre. Best known is the Mt Stewart Reserve walk which starts at the Gumboot sculpture beside SH1 at the north end of the town. A 1.3km uphill track which climbs through native bush with labelled trees takes you to the summit of Mt Stewart. It's a relatively short and easy loop walk but be prepared for some steep sections with stairs. A lookout at the top provides 360 degree views of the town, Mt Ruapehu and the Ruahine Range which make the climb well worthwhile. Just down the road and a two minute drive from SH1 is Papakai Park, once a centre of summer activity in Taihape. Over the years the park and riverside trails had…

2 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Walking the walk: from Palmerston North to Linton

If you're after a truly scenic and accessible river walk in Palmerston North that combines nature, culture, and a sense of community connection, the route from the the bridge at Dittmer Drive over the Manawatū River to Bells Road at Linton should be on your list. This section of the He Ara Kotahi Pathway offers everything from riverside views and wildlife encounters to built heritage and gentle movement through urban fringe, farmland and bush margins. Starting at the He Ara Kotahi Bridge near Dittmer Drive in Palmerston North, this walk to Bells Road in Linton is approximately 5.6 km one-way. That means an out-and-back journey of about 11 km, ideal for a half-day adventure. Most people complete it in one and a half to three hours return, depending on pace,…

3 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Rangitoto Island walk to the summit

Standing on the summit of Mt Rangitoto, with Auckland spread out below me and the Hauraki Gulf shimmering in every direction, I felt a quiet sense of achievement. Rangitoto is not the tallest or hardest walk in New Zealand, but it is one of the most iconic. Walking to the top is as much about the journey through a unique volcanic landscape as it is about the destination. My day began in Auckland's city centre, where getting to Rangitoto is surprisingly easy. I caught a ferry from the downtown terminal, a relaxed 25-minute trip across the Waitematā Harbour. As the city skyline slowly slipped behind us, Rangitoto's unmistakable cone came into full view. The island rises dramatically from the sea, its dark lava slopes and gentle symmetry making it instantly…

4 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Walking Clubs Groups

NORTH ISLAND NORTHLAND BAY OF ISLANDS BAY OF ISLANDS WALKERS: Saturday (AM), Jacqui Watson 022-601-9741, Roz Whittaker 021-063-1455 DARGAVILLE DARGAVILLE TRAMPING GROUP: Last Sunday of month (AM), Lynley Thompson 021-102-3974, colvilleestate1@gmail.com WHANGAREI CARDIAC CARE WALKING GROUP: Wednesday (AM or PM), Jo or Hugh Knight 09-438-7976 KIWI SENIORS WALKING GROUP: Monday (AM), Kensington Reception, 09-437-4404 GREEN PRESCRIPTION WALKING GROUPS: 0800-228-483 HARRIERS WALKING GROUP: Tuesday (AM), Wednesday (PM), Thursday (AM), Val Babe 09-437-1657 HIKURANGI WALKING GROUP: Tuesday (PM) KAMO 60's UP: Monday, Thursday (AM), Yvonne 09-435-1101 TIKIPUNGA WALKING GROUP: Tuesday (AM), Barbara Derrick 09-435-0746 WAIPU WALKING GROUP: Wednesday (AM) WHANGAREI TRAMPING CLUB: http://www.whangareitrampingclub.co.nz/ GREAT BARRIER ISLAND BARRIER TRAMPING& BEER LOVERS CLUB: Sunday, John Brock 09-429-0211 AUCKLAND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES CLUB: midweek, weekends (BIA), walks, tramps, www.oacnz.org, OutdoorActivitiesAuck@outlook.com AUCKLAND NATURAL HISTORY CLUB: Every second…

25 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

AUSTRALIA

FEBRUARY 2026 1 Kilcunda Trail Running Festival, Kilcunda, Vic 1 Perth Trail Summer Series: Swissmurdie, Mundy Regional Park, WA 8 Wentworth Falls Trail Run, Leura, NSW 3 Mt Ainslie Run Up & Power Walk, Canberra, ACT 7 Cradle Mountain Run, Waldheim, Tas 8 Runway for Wildlife, Templstove, Vic 8 Wentworth Falls Trail Run, Leura, NSW 14 Flying Brick Bellarine Sunset Run, Portarlington, Vic 15 City Run, North Adelaide, SA 15 Run Moana, Moana, SA 15 Hobart Run The Bridge, Hobart, Tas 20 The Goat Race, Townsville, Qld 21 Vineyards Twilight Run, Brown Brothers Winery, Milawa, Vic 22 Castle Hill Trail Run, Castlehill, Qld 22 City2City Run Walk, Albury, Vic 22 Memory Walk & Jog: Canberra, ACT 22 Run Forster, Forster, NSW 22 Trail Run Australia Snowy Mountains, Crackenback, NSW MARCH…

1 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

FEBRUARY Weather prediction

1st Unusually high temperatures likely in the Manawatu to the lower North Island. 1st-2nd Chance of the remnants of an ex-tropical cyclone crossing the South Island around this time, producing some heavy rain for a time mostly on the West Coast, and very strong winds to most parts of the country south of Auckland. Chance that high wind gusts may cause some damage to infrastructure and power outages from the lower North Island to Canterbury regions. 3rd-4th A trough between two high pressure centres lingers over the country bringing showers mostly through central New Zealand. 4th-5th High pressure prevails. Chance of misty patches in the Christchurch area. 5th-7th Scattered rain throughout most of the country, later clearing in the southern half of the South Island. 8th-10th A trough between two…

4 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Walking the Greek Islands in Spring

There is no better season than spring to discover Greece on foot. Before the summer heat settles over the mainland and islands, the countryside comes alive with carpets of wildflowers, soft breezes, and the gentle warmth that makes walking an absolute pleasure. The adventure begins in Athens, where history rises above the city in the soaring columns of the Acropolis and its iconic Parthenon. After exploring the ancient heart of the capital, you can dive into its modern spirit on a food tour through bustling markets and aromatic bakeries—an introduction to Greece's famously generous cuisine. From there, the tour moves into the mountains of Parnassus and the atmospheric ruins of Delphi, where myth and landscape meet in one of the ancient world's most sacred places. Then it's off to Crete,…

1 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Walking on the edge of the World: the Chatham Islands

Rēkohu (Moriori) Wharekauri (Maori) the Chatham Islands offer some of New Zealand's most remote and rewarding walking experiences, blending dramatic coastal scenery, unique cultural heritage, and rare ecological treasures. From the site of the world's first dawn atop Mt Hakepa on Pitt Island to discovering the ancient Rakau Momori carvings at Hāpūpū, each track reveals a different facet of this extraordinary archipelago. With only around 1,300 visitors each year, the Chathams remain one of New Zealand's most coveted bucket-list destinations. A walking tour here provides not just breathtaking landscapes, but a glimpse into a way of life few outsiders ever experience. Located 800 kilometres east of mainland New Zealand, the Chatham Islands feel like another world. Windswept coastlines, rolling hills, and endemic forests create a landscape both rugged and enchanting.…

4 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

Wrights Hill Lookout walk

Perched above the western suburbs of Wellington, the Wrights Hill Lookout Loop Walk offers a rewarding blend of bush walking, sweeping city views, and wartime history in a compact, easily reached package. This is a walk where native birdsong mingles with echoes of World War Two, and where every bend in the track seems to reveal either another view or another story. There are a couple of ways to experience Wrights Hill, but the classic Lookout Loop is a short, undulating circuit that most reasonably fit walkers can manage in an easy half-day outing. The official Wrights Hill Lookout Loop is about 2.3 kilometres long and is usually completed in around one hour 30 minutes at a relaxed pace, allowing time to pause at viewpoints and historic relics. Many walkers…

4 min

Walking New Zealand |February 2026

NEW ZEALAND

JANUARY 2026 10 Aotearoa Ultra Marathon, Little River Canterbury 10 Ian Priest Memorial Hutt River Trail, Wairara to Petone 10 Good Home Taranaki Off Road Half Marathon, New Plymouth 10 King and Queen of the Withers, Blenheim 10 Sandy Point Backyard Ultra, Invercargill 13 Manawatu Striders Super Seven Series, Palmerston North 17 Glenham Trainwreck Trail, Glenhaam, Southland 17 Mount Festival Half Marathon, Mt Maunganui 17 Hanmer Springs Adventure Run, Hanmer Spings 17 Krayzie Chicks Frontyard Ultra, Kaiapoi Island 17 The Goat Adventure Run, Tongariro National Park 17 Wine Run Rossendale Wines Vineyard, Christchurch 18 8th Continent Marathon & Half Marathon, Auckland 18 Harcourts Cooper & Co Run Devonport, Auckland 20 Manawatu Striders Super Seven Series, Palmerston North 24 First Light Marathon, Gisborne 24 Feel The Burn Trail Run, Craigieburn Basin,…

4 min