21 February 2005

Barking up the wrong tree, a stroll round the landfill and bludging in the bush – all part of Stepping Out!

Once again Wellingtonians will have easy access to a multitude of walking opportunities in March, thanks to the Wellington City Council’s Stepping Out! programme.

The award-winning programme includes an amazing range of walks around the city and region - from easy urban and surburban strolls, to arduous tramps across some of our roughest and most spectacular terrain.

Among this year’s highlights: Five New Lunchtime Walks – learn some of central Wellington’s secret shortcuts, nooks and crannies Barking up the Wrong Tree – Monday 7 March - a walk, hosted by the Friends of the Botanic Garden, that is focuses on trees with interesting and unusual bark.

Figs, pine, and cork trees feature. Bludgers in the Bush – Sunday 20 March - explore Otari-Wilton’s Bush while learning about parasitic plants that grow on trees to get a better share of sunlight. explore Katherine Mansfield’s Thorndon - walk through this heritage area tracing the Wellington life of our famous writer.

Check out the Botanic Garden’s brilliant outdoor artworks – including the Sundial of Human Involvement - on the Sculpture Walk on Thursday 10 March. Waste Complex walk – Saturday 19 March - take advantage of this rare opportunity to see behind the scenes at the Southern Landfill. Learn how the landfill operates, and visit the Living Earth compost plant and the United Water dewatering plant. Bookings necessary – tel 802 4484.

Stepping Out Co-ordinator Andy Nelson says this year’s programme of more than 100 events will appeal to people with varying levels of fitness, from all ‘walks’ of life. “There are shorter, easier walks that take in the history of the central city and the suburbs – and there are some demanding and longer tramps that will take in some of the more isolated and rugged parts of the region, like Karori Rock, Belmont Regional Park and Kaitoke.”

The City Council is also running a how-to workshop on setting up and developing a walking group. The workshop is on Sunday 20 March at the Regional Aquatic Centre, Kilbirnie Crescent, starting 9.30am. For further details call 801 3604.

Full details of events and dates are in the Stepping Out! brochures available from City Council swimming pools, recreation centres and libraries or log on to www.steppingout.feelinggreat.co.nz for more information.

ENDS

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