CONTENTS

3 Contents

4 Walk Talk

6 New Zealand Walk: Rangitoto Island walks on Auckland’s youngest volcano

10 New Zealand Walk: Mercer Bay Loop Track for great west coast views

11 Need 2 Know: Warm up is important before walking an event

12 Overseas Walks: In the footsteps of Patriarchs, Prophets, Priests and Kings

18 New Zealand Walk: Ruamahanga River Bridge Walk

20 Mt Favourite Walk: Allowing the imagination to run wild in the bush

22 New Zealand Walk: Bell Rock Loop Track a walk to an iconic rock

23 Overseas Walk: USA’s 63rd National Park is newest

24 Walking New Zealand Monthly Photo Contest

26 New Zealand Walks: 13 Mile Bush Walk on Benmore Station

28 New Zealand Walks: Walking back in history on Kawau Island

29 New Trails: Connecting the dots - creating a trails network across Coromandel Peninsula

30 New Zealand Walk: Te Rangiita River Walk

31 Nordic Walking: Nordic Walking enhances and intensifies natural walking

32 Walking Festival: ECHO Walking Festival 2023 the biggest ever

34 New Zealand Walk: New Brighton Pier

35 Subscription page

36 New Zealand Walk: Mangawhai Heads Lookout Walk

38 New Zealand Walk: Turangi Lookout Walk

40 Oversesa Walks: Dozens of tracks to explore in Australia’s Snowy Mountains

42 Index of previous 15 issues

43 Coming Events: New Zealand

48 New Zealand Country Breaks

52 Garmin

Monthly

PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Frank Goldingham: Phone 06-358-6863, 027-274-0726

CONTRIBUTORS: Phillip Donnell, Dorothy Johnstone, Yvonne van Eerden, Lauren Schaer and June Stevenson

ADVERTISING MANAGER: Frank Goldingham 0800 walking (925-546) 027-274-0726 Email: walkingnz@xtra.co.nz

COMING EVENTS ADVERTISING: Frank Goldingham 0800-walking (925-546) Email walkingnz@xtra.co.nz

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Phone 0800-925-546 SUBSCRIPTION

Lower Hutt Riverlink projects closer to reality

RiverLink, a transformational set of projects for Lower Hutt, is one step closer to reality with the green light given to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) to establish an Alliance of design and construction firms to deliver the programme.

RiverLink is jointly funded by the Government through the NZ Upgrade Programme, Greater Wellington and Hutt City Council.

Emma Speight, NZTA Director of Regional Relationships for Wellington/Top of South, says RiverLink is a critical set of projects for Lower Hutt and represents more than five years’ worth of extensive consultation, engagement and consenting work by project partners on behalf of their local communities.

RiverLink is expected to bring real benefits to the tens of thousands of Kiwis who live, work, and travel through Lower Hutt every day, with safer and more connected transport options, a stronger and more resilient river corridor, and greater business, housing, and investment opportunities through revitalisation of the Lower Hutt central city.

Trail map and trail notes refreshed

The latest versions of Te Araroa’s trail maps and notes have been updated and are available on the website. The latest notes include adjustments to the main trail route, bypasses, and improved information about places to stay and helpful notes on topics such as the locations of drinking water.

A significant amount of effort goes into the updates and they are a valuable resource for anyone planning on thru-walking or section walking on the trail.

Aim to reduce fire risk in forest park

Cutting-edge technology is reducing the risk of a fire in one of Christchurch’s most popular recreational spots – Bottle Lake Forest Park. Self-powered sensors have been installed in the park to help with early fire detection.

Christchurch City Council and Spark New Zealand are trialling a new fire detection network that uses artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to monitor conditions within the park, which is also a commercial forest, around-the-clock. With help from technology partner Attentis, they have installed a network of five self-powered sensors that deliver environmental monitoring, live micro-climate weather updates, air quality information, and visual and thermal imaging to assist in early fire detection.

Thousands of people visit the park each year to get out in nature and enjoy the bike and walking tracks. The technology will help protect the forest, neighbouring properties, the environment and wildlife.