Dust off the walking boots to explore
Manawatu walkers should take the opportunity to get to know their regional backyard, says a walking advocate.
Keen tramper and Manawatu Walking Festival organiser Frank Goldingham said he started the festival in 2015 because he heard so much about similar festivals in other parts of the country.
‘‘I thought, ‘why can’t people come to Manawatu?’ It’s surprising what we’ve got around here on walks. There’s some terrific walks.
‘‘You’re out in the fresh air. The views are lovely. You’re away from town, but not too far. People probably don’t know what they’re missing.’’
More than 200 people were expected at festival events yesterday and today. This year’s activities include 10 walks, of which eight had filled up by early yesterday, he said.
However, there was still space left on the Striders Summerhill Walk, starting at 9am today at the Esplanade, and the Public Sculpture Walk, starting in The Square in Palmerston North at 5.30pm today.
Other walks in the festival include a Foxton Beach to Himatangi sunset walk, a Forest and Bird guided walk through the Manawatu Gorge, and a tour through the Pohangina Valley Estate’s vineyards, olive groves and sheep farm.
Goldingham is a big fan of tramping all year and hopes those who have missed out will still have their interest piqued enough to undertake some of the walks themselves. One plus for the festival is walking guides, who help participants learn more about what they are seeing.
‘‘There’s lots of flora and fauna, and they’ll see where the slips were in the gorge, and on the Tawa walk [in the Manawatu Gorge], you get a great view back to town.’’
He estimated about 45 per cent of walkers in the past festivals had come from other regions or were international students.