Regional Outdoors opens up regional parks

Greater Wellington is making regional parks accessible to more people with its Regional Outdoors programme this summer.

The programme has over 40 events running from January to March including walks, bike rides, talks and events across the region from Queen Elizabeth Park, to the Hutt River Trail to Kaitoke Regional Park.

Greater Wellington Landcare Committee chairman Chris Laidlaw says, “Regional Outdoors is a great way to visit somewhere new with our rangers or volunteers who know the parks well. The regional parks have amazing landscapes and are a great place to walk, to sit or get fit, all within an hour’s drive of Wellington City.”

New events this year include four walks through the forested hills between Wainuiomata and Eastbourne in East Harbour Regional Park; a celebration of the Lord of the Rings on location at Rivendell, Kaitoke Regional Park, featuring riding doubles from the actual filming; and poets inspired by the beauty of the Kapiti Coast reading their works at Queen Elizabeth Park.

“We’re also offering some of our popular favourites, like 4WD trips, the Rimutaka Rail Trail Walk, Have-a-go Horse Riding sessions for adults and children and a visit to a Glow-worm Grotto,” says Parks & Forests principal advisor marketing Amanda Cox.

Most of the events are free, while some have a small charge to cover transport when it’s provided as part of the event.

“We really encourage newcomers to our parks to try some of the events, and others may find it’s a way to get to areas that are a little more inaccessible on your own,” Amanda says.

The Regional Outdoors programme is sent out to all households with Greater Wellington’s Elements newspaper around 18 December or view events at www.gw.govt.nz

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