Kaitoke is the place to be in Parks Week

Kaitoke Regional Park is carrying the mantle for Parks Week, Wellington’s annual celebration of the great outdoors on our city doorstep.

Three Great Outdoors events feature at Kaitoke during the promotional week which is supported by the Greater Wellington Regional Council and run by the New Zealand Recreational Association.

With the weather finally turning summer like there is still time to get out and about and enjoy what is on offer in our regional parks, Greater Wellington parks portfolio leader Prue Lamason said.

‘‘Parks Week aims to encourage us to do just that, to get out into the great outdoors and enjoy the variety of parks on our doorstep.’’

‘‘Our regional parks provide us with opportunities to get away from it all or to join with others to explore what’s on offer in our green spaces.

‘‘They play a key role in enabling us to escape from our urban environment and relax and in helping to make Wellington a great place in which to live.’’

The Kaitoke action begins on Friday evening of March 10 with ‘‘Rainforest and Rivendell’’.

For 90 minutes, from 7pm, council rangers will take visitors on an easy guided walk to learn about the park’s rainforest and visit the site of Rivendell where scenes from the Lord of the Rings series were filmed.

The next day there are two events offering a choice of a lengthy bush walk or good old fashioned fun and games.

Push Play in the Park at 11am will have Upper Hutt City Council’s recreation team organising three-hours of exercise including tag, backyard cricket and football.

On the same day, and heading off an hour earlier at 10am, is the 9-kilometre Ridge Track walk.

This is ‘‘a moderately demanding walk, where a good level of fitness is required, through regenerating bush and mature beech forest which give panoramic views of the Hutt Valley and the Tararuas.’’

‘‘Our park is a standout because of its pristine environment,’’ regional council park ranger Steve Edwards said.

‘‘You can have a swim here or a picnic or take a walk through beautiful rain forest. There is also low-cost camping here which is increasingly popular.’’

Free Super rugby in the park, page 12