News release
16 December 2010

Great options for kids in the Great Outdoors

Keeping the kids happy during the school holidays will be easy with Greater Wellington’s Great Outdoors Summer Events 2011 programme. They’ll learn something too.

“I urge any parent or guardian to check out the programme – you’ll find some great options for entertaining restless children,” says Cr Nigel Wilson, Chair of Greater Wellington’s Cultural and Social Wellbeing Committee. (This committee’s responsibilities include regional parks and forests.)

Cr Wilson says the Great Outdoors events are a wonderful way of introducing children to regional parks and the recreational opportunities they provide. “The events offer fun, unique experiences in a safe environment and we’ve worked hard to make them accessible, so in most cases they are either free or low-cost.”

January highlights include Creepy Crawly Critters – a new event at Battle Hill Farm Forest Park where kids can uncover the creatures that live in our waterways and bush, the Beginners Guide to Owning a Pony in Queen Elizabeth Park, and an introduction to the region’s very own rainforest in Kaitoke Regional Park’s Beginners Guide to the Rainforest. And of course Kev the Wandering Kiwi will be in locations around the Hutt Valley throughout the month.

These are only a few of the 64 events on offer. There are many more for children throughout January, with a full programme of events going right through to April. Check out www.gw.govt.nz/events for the complete list of events.

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO OWNING A PONY
8 Jan and repeated on 12 Jan
11am-11.45am, 11.45am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-2.15pm, 2.15pm-3pm
Queen Elizabeth Park, MacKays Crossing
$25 per person
Join the Stables on the Park team for an introduction to riding and looking after ponies. No experience necessary. Max 12 riders per session. For ages 5-15. Booking essential, bookings[at]gw.govt.nz, 04 830 4041

CREEPY CRAWLY CRITTERS (free event)
9 Jan
10am-12noon
Battle Hill Farm Forest Park
Uncover creatures that live in our waterways and bush Feed the eels and see the ways we keep pest numbers down. Suitable for 8 years+. Max 30 people. Booking essential, bookings[at]gw.govt.nz, 04 830 4041

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO THE RAINFOREST (free event)
13 Jan and repeated on 20 Jan
7pm-8.30pm
Kaitoke Regional Park, Waterworks Road entrance
Join the rangers on a walk through native bush, introducing the wonders of Wellington’s temperate rainforest. Max 40 people. Booking essential, bookings[at]gw.govt.nz, 04 830 4041

KEV THE WANDERING KIWI WALKS (free events)
Tunnel Gully Recreation Area – 6 Jan, Wainuiomata Recreation Area – 13 Jan, Hutt River Trail (Poets Park) – 20 Jan, Belmont Regional Park (Oakleigh St entrance) – 27 Jan.
All of the walks are from 10.30am to 12pm. No need to book – just turn up. Complimentary coffee by Caffe L’affare and spot prizes from Dwights Outdoors.

ENDS

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