New Zealand Walks: Over 50 walks in this year’s Waiheke Walking Festival
Lockdowns may have turned our world upside down, but walking has found a new place in people’s hearts. A time for fresh air and getting out and about in our communities, but also smiles from faces that get more familiar each walk, and a wave and ‘hello’ to neighbours from a safe distance. There’s no doubting how much better we all feel when we return to our bubble after a walk.
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 instead of their traditional winter break in the Pacific. And why wouldn’t you? A tropical island with its own micro-climate a short ferry ride from downtown 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 www.walkingnewzealand.co.nz their way through the Whakanewha Regional Park to the chorus of tūī, kereru and pīwakawaka.
With a rich history of Māori on Waiheke, with Europeans also settling and farming on the Island - some of which is explored in the Festival’s story telling 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.
Now in its twelfth year, this looks set to be the best 17 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’, it’s about friendship, fun and getting out amongst nature, with low impact to 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 and neighbouring islands.
This year the Waiheke Walking Festival will take place from 5th – 21st November 2021.
The 50 plus walks vary to ensure all abilities and interests are catered for. The walks cover everything from progressive food walks, photography, music, conservation, fitness, with many opportunities to walk on private land.
The almost three-week schedule of walks is full of family-friendly events and caters to everyone and anyone, there’s even a silent disco!
With COVID-19 now a reality in our world, planning for the 2021 Festival includes smaller numbers of walkers on each walk, and other measures to ensure government alert level protocols are followed.
Obviously, Auckland will need to be at a COVID-19 level that allows the Festival to go ahead, but the organisers are planning as if it is going ahead at this point.
To counter the smaller numbers of walkers per walk, the Festival is
longer in duration and some of the more popular walks are repeated more than once to minimise where possible people missing out.
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 often books out.
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 firstly considering becoming a ‘Friend of the Festival’ for $100. In return a Friend can book more walks (10 instead of six) and book two weeks prior to opening to the public on 1 October. The 100 spots for Friends of the Festival often sell out so if you are keen, get in quick!
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
5 – 21 November 2021
For more information, programme details and to book walks visit www. waihekewalkingfestival.org and outside of the Waiheke Walking Festival www.walkwaiheke.co.nz