Event: Waiheke Walking Festival with walks for

The last year’s lockdowns may have turned our world upside down, and it sadly meant the cancellation of the 2021 Waiheke Walking Festival, but this year the Festival is returning with plans and a programme that will be ‘uncancellable’. What the team learned over the past two years is that things change quickly, so they’ve designed a Festival that can flex with the changes and is sure to offer something for everyone. The focus this year is on creating amazing walks, offering choices for how people can do those walks, and keeping the walkers and volunteers safe. Those who live on Waiheke Island have long known they live in paradise, and one of the silver linings of closed borders has been more Kiwis coming to the island. And why wouldn’t you? A tropical island with its own micro-climate a short Fullers360 ferry ride from downtown 18 Walking New Zealand, issue no 294 - 2022 www.walkingnewzealand.co.nz

Waiheke Walking Festival with walks for everyone Auckland. Waiheke is famous for award-winning wine and restaurants, beautiful beaches and views that simply take your breath away. In addition to this, it is fast becoming well-known for the huge network of tracks that hug the coast beneath giant pōhutukawa trees, or zig-zag their way through the Whakanewha Regional Park to the chorus of tūī, kereru and pīwakawaka. The Island has a rich history of Māori on Waiheke, with Europeans also settling and farming on the Island - some of which are explored in the Festival’s storytelling walks, including a Māori pā site. On the beach, you can spot dotterels (tūturiwhatu) in a protected area. And of course, walks can be tactfully planned to end at one of those award-winning vineyards. Above:: Great coastal views on this walk. Photo Rainer Lehr. Below left: Walking in Whakanewha Regional Park.

Now in its twelfth year, this looks set to be the best 11 days of walking events yet!

Established in 2010 by an enthusiastic group of locals, the idea of the Waiheke Walking Festival is to offer participants the chance to spend time on Waiheke Island and walk in areas not normally open to the public.

Lovingly labelled the ‘world’s friendliest Walking Festival’, the event is about friendship, fun and getting out amongst nature, with low impact on the island’s environment.

It’s important to understand locals put on this event for the love of it; The Waiheke Walking Trust is a charitable trust that exists to showcase Waiheke Island as a walking destination and to encourage and inspire people to experience walking recreation on Waiheke.

This year the Waiheke Walking Festival will take place from 10-20 November. Over 50 different walks vary to ensure all abilities and interests are catered for. The walks cover everything from progressive food walks, photography, music, conservation and fitness, with many opportunities to walk on private land.

The 11-day schedule of walks is full of family-friendly events and caters to everyone and anyone; there’s even a silent disco!

For those after a challenge, why not consider the five-day 100km Te Ara Hura adventure that circumnavigates the island. All shuttle transfers are sorted and there is no need to carry more than a day pack. This is an extremely popular walk and one that often books out.

With COVID-19 now a reality in our world, planning for the 2022 Festival includes some optional selfguided walks, and the Festival will be introducing a new walking App, which is under development, which will be used for the storytelling walk around Rangihoua, and to make the self-guided walks easy to follow.

Don’t worry, there are still plenty of walks with guides and volunteers, as is the Festival’s lovely tradition, and measures will be in place to keep walkers and volunteers safe.

They have a motto on Waiheke: “Slow down, you’re here”, and that is what the Waiheke Walking Festival does best. Start planning your November walking adventure now by signing up to the newsletter and you’ll be kept informed of all the dates and how to register.

If for some reason you can’t make the Festival but are visiting Waiheke, many great walks that are available all year round can be found at www. walkwaiheke.co.nz

So, grab a group of friends, put the dates aside and use the Festival as a good excuse to become healthier and fitter, whilst having fun.

Key information 10 – 20 November 2022

For more information, programme details and to book walks visit www. waihekewalkingfestival.org and outside of the Waiheke Walking Festival www.walkwaiheke.co.nz Above: Walking throuh a forest

plantation. Photo by Michelle Abro.

10 - 20 NOVEMBER 2022

11 days of spectacular walks

THE WORLD’S FRIENDLIEST WALKING FESTIVAL

Join us on beautiful Waiheke Island, our festival has walks for everyone

Check out the website for all the details on festival programme and bookings www.waihekewalkingfestival.org

PRESENTING PARTNER MAJOR SPONSORS

Ray White Waiheke SUPPORTING SPONSORS PRINCIPAL FUNDERS

Heaphy Track - a walk of contrasts

Of all the Great Walks, the Heaphy Track delivers the strongest contrasts. Every section of the track is vastly different from the previous one.

Choose to hike this track and you’ll get luxuriant rainforest; subalpine tussock grasslands; high, rugged mountains; and, finally, lowland forest and palm-fringed surf beaches.

You’re in for 82 kilometres of hard walking, but the frequent scenery changes will certainly take your mind off sore feet.

The track is staged within the Kahurangi National Park, the second largest national park in the country and home to many Great Spotted Kiwi Birds.

Even to a non-geologist, Kahurangi’s rocks are deeply interesting. Parts of the region are limestone or marble; these areas are characterised by an abundance of caves, bluffs, natural arches, sinkholes and waterworn outcrops.

The park also contains the largest cave system in New Zealand.

The path followed by the Heaphy Track was first used by Maori pounamu hunters travelling from Golden Bay to the pounamu (jade) rivers of Westland. Pounamu was highly valued for tools, weapons and ornaments.

Boots Packs

Rainwear

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Where to stay on the track

DOC operates six huts and nine Great Walks campsites along the Heaphy Track, that must be booked in advance all year round. Campers are not permitted to use hut facilities.

Kōhaihai is a Standard campsite which must be booked online in advance on the Campsites/Huts/Lodges booking system.

See www.doc.govt.nz/campsites for details. and www.doc.govt.nz/heaphytrack for prices.

Great Walk huts

Huts have bunks, mattresses, a water supply, toilets, hand-washing facilities and heating with fuel. All huts have cooking fuel, except Brown Hut and

Gouland Downs Hut. A DOC ranger may be present.

Great Walks campsites

Visit www.doc.govt.nz/heaphytrack for prices.

The campsites offer basic facilities including toilets, a sink and a water supply. Some also have picnic tables and cooking shelters.

Getting to the track

You can start the Heaphy Track from the following locations: * Brown Hut, Golden Bay: from Collingwood take the road up Aorere valley to Brown Hut (28 km). * Kōhaihai, West Coast: from Karamea, head north to the car park and campsite at Kōhaihai River (15 km).

The ends of the track are 463 km apart by road, so you will need to arrange transport at each end.

Bus, taxi, air and vehicle relocation services are available from both ends of the track. (Limited bus services operate in winter.)

Ouch! Sore feet while walking?

Hikers Wool is 100% New Zealand wool. Cushion your feet to prevent pain, rubbing and blisters.

Buy online or at selected stockists

For more info visit www.hikerswool.co.nz