Whanganui Walking Group's Programme
(please note dates and events are subject to change, and also the prices shown below are subject to change depending on the fuel prices at the time.)
Westmere Lake Evening Walk (Nearby Walk)
DATE: Sunday 28th December
TIME: 7pm
MEETING LOCATION: Westmere Lake Car Park on Rapanui Road
DIFFICULTY: Easy
WALK LEADER: Tracy
DOGS ALLOWED: No
Westmere Lake once again kick's off our walks between Christmas and New Year's. Come along for an evening through the bush around the lake.
*Postponed* South Mole & River Loop (Nearby Walk - Easier* & Harder Options)
DATE: Tuesday 30th December
TIME: 2pm
MEETING LOCATION: South Beach Car Park at the end of the gravel road past the airport
DIFFICULTY: Easy to Easy/Mod
WALK LEADERS: Joseph & Willem
DOGS ALLOWED: Yes
The last walk of 2025 is for a walk along the beach from South Beach up to the South Mole, where we will be able to check out the works going on out at the South Mole. The plan is to return along the river.
Waverly Beach Walk (Half-Day Trip - Shorter* & Longer Options)
DATE: Saturday 3rd January
TIME: 1.30pm
MEETING LOCATION: COI Car Park
DIFFICULTY: Easy to Easy/Mod
WALK LEADER: Tracy
COST: $10 (for transport,15 & under half price, 5 & under 1/4 price)
DOGS ALLOWED: Yes (must provide own transport)
We start our 2026 walks with a beach walk from Waverly Beach down to the Waitotara River Mouth, where there are remnants of a sunken forest and a lagoon to explore. There are also numerous coastal caves to check out as well.
(Please register interest by the Friday before the trip, by emailing whanganui.walking@gmail.com, or by contacting the trip leaders)
South Beach to Kaitoke Stream Evening Walk (Nearby Walk - Shorter & Longer Options)
DATE: Tuesday 6th January
TIME: 7pm
MEETING LOCATION: South Beach Car Park at the end of the gravel road past the airport
DIFFICULTY: Easy
WALK LEADER: Julayne
DOGS ALLOWED: Yes
We're back at South Beach for the first evening walk of 2026, but this time we are walking south to the Kaitoke Stream
New Plymouth TSB Festival of Lights Trip + Bush Walks (Full-Day Trip - Shorter & Longer Options)
DATE: Saturday 10th January
TIME: 10.30am
MEETING LOCATION: COI Car Park
DIFFICULTY: Easy to Moderate
WALK LEADER: Carl, Tracy & Willem
COST: $35 (for transport & bbq dinner,15 & under half price, 5 & under 1/4 price)
DOGS ALLOWED: No
We are heading up to New Plymouth for the Festival of the Lights, but before hitting the lights we've got a few walks lined up. First up we have a bush walk at Ratapihipihi Scenic Reserve which has a small waterfall, then it's to the Barrett Domain which has another bush walk and a logoon. Then it to the Herekawe Walkway for a walk along the Herekawe Stream out to the Back Beach. Then it a climb up the Paritutu Rock before heading to the main event, the lights.
(Please register interest by the Friday before the trip, by emailing whanganui.walking@gmail.com, or by contacting the trip leaders)
Westmere Walkway Evening Walk (Local Walk - Shorter* & Longer Options)
DATE: Tuesday 13th January
TIME: 6.30pm
MEETING LOCATION: Car park on Kelvin Street
DIFFICULTY: Easy/Mod
WALK LEADER: Willem
DOGS ALLOWED: No
Westmere Walkway is a farm walk located behind Savemart. Once reaching the top, you are rewarded with views looking over Whanganui
Corliss Island (Local Walk)
DATE: Monday 19th January
TIME: 3.30pm
MEETING LOCATION: Grass Field near the Heads Rd, SH3 Roundabout
DIFFICULTY: Easy/Mod
WALK LEADER: Willem
DOGS ALLOWED: Yes
Come join us as we explore Corliss (Rabbit) Island in the Whanganui River just down river from the Cobham Bridge
River Walk - Bedford Ave to the North Mole (Local Walk - Shorter* & Longer Options)
DATE: Saturday 24th January
TIME: 1.30pm
MEETING LOCATION: Walkway entrance on Bedford Ave
DIFFICULTY: Easy to Easy/Mod
WALK LEADER: Sue
DOGS ALLOWED: Yes
This walk takes us along the Whanganui River on riverside tracks from Bedford Ave all the way out to where the river meets the Tasman Sea at the North Mole
Ohakune Old Coach Road (Full-Day Trip)
DATE: Saturday 31st January
TIME: 8am
MEETING LOCATION: COI Car Park
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
WALK LEADERS: Willem & Carl
COST: $30 (for transport & light refreshments after the walk, $20 for 15 & under)
DOGS ALLOWED: No
The Ohakune Old Coach Road is a historic, scenic track near Ohakune, New Zealand, linking Horopito to Ohakune, featuring impressive viaducts and an old railway tunnel as well as stunning views of the surrounding Ruapehu area. Offering a mix of history and nature through the native forest.
(Please register interest by the Friday before the trip, by emailing whanganuiwalking@gmail.com, or by contacting the trip leaders)
Autumn Walks Planning Meeting
DATE: Sunday 1st February
TIME: 2pm
MEETING LOCATION: St Johns Club
Come along and help us plan walk from March through to May, or send any suggestions to whanganuiwalking@gmail.com
Round the Bridges & Durie Hill Steps Twilight Walk (Local Walk - Easier & Harder Options)
DATE: Friday 6th February
TIME: 7pm
MEETING LOCATION: Car Park at the bottom of Durie Hill Steps
DIFFICULTY: Easy to Easy/Mod
WALK LEADER: tbc
DOGS ALLOWED: Yes
For Waitangi Day we have a twilight walk around the City & Dublin Street Bridges, followed by a (optional) climb up the durie hill steps
Tutaenui Reservoir (Nearby Walk - Shorter & Longer Options)
DATE: Sunday 8th February
TIME: 2.30pm (at Tutaenui) or 1.50pm (In Whanganui, with pre-arranged transport)
MEETING LOCATIONS: Tutaenui Reserve car park at the end Tutaenui Road, Marton
DIFFICULTY: Easy
WALK LEADER: tbc
DOGS ALLOWED: Yes (must provide own transport)
For the Sunday of Waitangi Weekend, we will take a short trip over to Marton for a walk around the Tutaenui Reservoirs. This lake walk through the rejuvenating native bush takes about an hour (If you would like transport, please email whanganuiwalking@gmail.com or contact the trip leaders to arrange)
Patea Dam & River Walk (Full-Day Trip - Pick Your Own Distance)
DATE: Saturday 14th February
TIME: 10.30am
MEETING LOCATION: COI Car Park
DIFFICULTY: Easy to Easy/Mod
WALK LEADER: Carl
COST: $20 (for transport & bbq dinner, $15 for 15 & under, $5 for 5 & under)
DOGS ALLOWED: No
Our adventure today takes us up to the Patea Dam and the Lake Rotorangi Hydro Walkway, which is a short loop walk through the black beech, tawa, and nikau palm forest on a bend above Lake Rotorangi, the longest man-made lake in New Zealand. Then it's off to the Patea Beach for River & Beach walks
(Please register interest by the Friday before the trip, by emailing whanganui.walking@gmail.com, or by contacting the trip leaders)
Roberts Ave Farm Twilight Walk or Hilton pit (Local Walk)
DATE: Saturday 21st February
TIME: 7pm
MEETING LOCATION: tbc
DIFFICULTY: tbc
WALK LEADER: Willem
DOGS ALLOWED: Yes
The walk for this evening is still to be confirmed; it'll either be a farm walkupRoberts Ave, or a wonder through Hiltons Pit
Tama Lakes Tramp (Full-Day Trip - Shorter & Longer Options)
DATE: Saturday 28th February
TIME: 7.30am
MEETING LOCATION: COI Car Park
DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Hard
WALK LEADER: Sue & tbc
COST: $25 ($15 for 15 & under)
DOGS ALLOWED: No
This is the highlight tramp of this summer for us! This tramp takes us on the Tama Saddle between Mt Ruapehu and Mt Ngauruhoe, to view the beautiful Tama Lakes, which are infilled explosion craters from past volcanic activity, alongside ancient lava flows and volcanic plains, offering stunning views and a unique alpine landscape, including the impressive Taranaki Falls
(Please register interest by the Friday before the trip, by emailing whanganui.walking@gmail.com, or by contacting the trip leaders)
MEETING LOCATION INFO
For our out of town trips we meet at the car park for Church on Ingestre, which is on the Cnr Ingestre & Campbell Streets, let us know if you need a ride to the car park. We can also pick up en route. The toilet at COI may not always be available.
TRANSPORT
We use our private vehicles for transport. The event organizers select the Vehicles and drivers before the event. If you would like to take your vehicle, please email ASAP so the organizer knows your vehicle is available. We prefer drivers for our events to have attended a few events before driving and to have held a full NZ driver's license for 2 years
SAFETY DISCLAIMER
Please note that by joining this tramp/walk, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own safety and well-being, and have the fitness to be able to complete the tramp/walk or the portion you intend to complete. The organizers and leaders will do their best to keep everyone safe, but they are not responsible for any injuries, accidents, or damages that may occur during this tramp/walk
Walk/Tramp Difficulty GradingsDifficulty How Long
Easy
How Long: up to 1.5hrs
Elevation Gain: up to 250m
There may be short climbs & descents with few steep sections, but nothing too sustained or strenuous. Easy walking surfaces with graded tracks. Streams & rivers are bridged
Easy/Mod
How Long: up to 3hrs
Elevation Gain: up to 400m
There may be more of a sustained climbs & descents, the surface may be rooty, rocky, or slippery, with steep sections but still easy to follow. There may be easy stream crossings, but major streams & rivers are bridged
Moderate
How Long: up to 5hrs
Elevation Gain: up to 750m
Moderate climbs & descents, track can be rough and hard to follow, and maybe steep in sections. Stream & River crossings may be present
Hard
How Long: up to 7hrs
Elevation Gain: 1000m
Steep strenuous climbs & descents; track maybe rough and hard to follow. Stream & River crossings may be present
Strenuous
7hrs+
1000m+
Long days with long, steep, strenuous climbs & descents; track may be rough and hard to follow. Stream & River crossings may be present. Prior tramping experience essential, also must have attended a tramp rated moderate or higher with us beforehand.
Local Walk
These walks are based around Whanganui and take place in the afternoons & evenings, evening walks take place from October through to March, at least one afternoon walk will run per month while the evening walks are on. These walks range from 30 minutes up to 4 hours long, These are mostly family-friendly walks, no need to register just meet at the location and time stated
Family-Friendly Walk
An out-of-town event that is suitable for families, with walks ranging from 30 minutes long up to 2 hours, that are on easier tracks, with no strenuous hills. No need to register unless transport is needed
Half-Day Tramp
An out-of-town event that can be up to 4hrs long, on more technical tracks. You will need to register for most of these types of walks
Day Tramp
Any day tramp that is expected to take more than 4 hours, You will need to register for these types of events for transport and health & safety reasons
Multi-Day Tramp
We will look at running some of these in the future
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