Here are the suggested routes and maps for the Runners and Walkers for our Bus Trip to the Waikanae River on Sunday May 31.  Should be enjoyable trip for all.

The routes are scenic, flat and on well-formed tracks.
There are toilets at the Otaihanga Domain.

As we ventured out this way in 2024, I have provided an optional alternative route for the Walkers and
Slower Running Group so they can experience different parts of the Waikanae River to that experienced
last time. These options include the Estuary and the Waimanu Lagoons where there is an abundant
variety of birdlife.

Stop 1 – Manly Street, Paraparaumu (near the intersection with Hadfield Place)

Route – Waikanae Estuary, Waimanu Lagoons, Waikanae River – The main Running Group will depart
from here along with any Walkers or those from the Slower Running Group wishing to go through the
Estuary and around the Lagoons.

Runners (Approx. 15 km)

Runners will leave from Manly Street and run through the Estuary to the Otaihanga Domain, cross the
bridge to the Waikanae side of the river, turning left towards the beach and run around the Waimanu
Lagoons.  Return to the bridge and staying on the Waikanae side (northern side) follow the river trail all
the way (up river) to the old State Highway 1 (Now SH59).  Cross the new bridge and then follow the
river trail on the southern side all the way to return to the Otaihanga Domain.

Walkers/Slower Running Group (Approx. 5.5 – 7.5 km)

Will also leave from Manly Street and go through the Estuary following the track to the Otaihanga
Domain. Once at the Domain, cross the bridge to the Waikanae side of the river, turning left towards
the beach, follow the trail toward the Waimanu Lagoons. Walk around both lagoons and then retrace
steps back to the Domain. This can be extended here by walking along the river trail (up river) and then
returning to the Otaihanga Domain.

Stop 2 – Otaihanga Domain, Makora Road, Paraparaumu

Route – Waikanae River – Those Runners and Walkers remaining on the bus will get dropped off here.
The bus will remain parked on the street near the Domain to pick everyone up afterwards. 

Walkers (Approx. 6.5 km)

Walkers will leave from the Otaihanga Domain and cross the bridge to the Waikanae side of the river
(northern side) and follow the river trail all the way (up river) to the first bridge.  Cross the bridge and
then follow the river trail on the southern side all the way to return to the Otaihanga Domain. The
more energetic Walkers looking to extend themselves, can follow the same route as the Slower Running
Group.
 
Slower Running Group (Approx. 9.5 km)

Runners will leave from the Otaihanga Domain and cross the bridge to the Waikanae side of the river
(northern side) and follow the river trail all the way (up river), continuing past the first bridge to the old
State Highway 1 (Now SH59).  Cross the new bridge and then follow the river trail on the southern sideall the way to return to the Otaihanga Domain.

Waikanae River

Waimanu Lagoons

Waimanu Lagoons 2

Bus Seat Reservation

Reservations are closed.

Bus Seats Reserved

Total Seats Reserved 24

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Welcome to another great year of being active together!

Our Sunday meetups have started again. If you’re already part of our Club, welcome back!
We’re looking forward to hearing your holiday stories, including any recommendations for
great places to run and walk. If you’re just joining us – welcome! We’re looking forward to
getting to know you and being part of your fitness and wellbeing story.

Using our room at Ākau Tangi

This year we’ll be in the Mātairangi room as usual. The room is ours from 8 – 9 am. We
don’t have anyone looking after our gear, so it’s best to store your personal belongings in
your car or hire a locker.

Ōtari Bush barbeque on 1 February

Tackling the trails – photo by Gail Kettle

On Sunday 1 February, our meet up will be at the Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush reserve, 150 Wilton Road.
We’ll meet at the carpark for an 8 am start and head off on our runs and walks.
By 10 am, we’ll gather at the barbeque area near the clearing by the stream for some well-deserved food and drink. You don’t need to bring a thing, other than yourselves!

If the weather’s no good and we need to cancel or postpone, we’ll email you ahead of time.
About Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush

Bus trips

We love our bus trips!
We literally hire a bus and travel to some interesting and often out-of-the-way places for our Sunday runs and walks.
A big thank you to Mark Growcott, our bus trip guru, for coming up with some great routes and maps.

We’re still nailing down destinations for 2026, but provisionally we’ll be travelling away to:

• Whareroa Farm area on Sunday 15 March
• Baring Head area on Sunday 5 April

If there’s somewhere you’d like us to go on a bus trip to, let us know.
You can talk to a committee member or email the committee.
About Whareroa Farm
About Baring Head

What’s happening in 2026

For the full story, dates and details of what we are up to in 2026, check out our calendar.
(just recently updated) and on the WRW homepage under “Upcoming Events” ( for the next 4 weeks).
Wellington Runners and Walkers 2026 Calendar

Supporting the club – your new committee

We all chip in to make the Club a great place to support our health, fitness and wellbeing goals.
Last year, you elected the following members to be the Club’s management committee:

• Nigel Raymond (President)
• Paul Johnson (Vice-President)
• Tasi Takuira-Mita (Treasurer)
• Wendy Kale (Secretary)
• Gordon Clarke
• Judith Llewellyn
• Toni Finkle

The Committee’s already met this year and plans to meet every month.
Any Club member is welcome to attend a committee meeting,
but only elected members may vote.

Supporting the club – subs

Every Club member supports the purposes of the club by paying a modest subscription.
Subscriptions are due now and if you pay before the end of February you get a 20% discount.
Check out the membership page on our website for details.
WRW membership

Want to buy a Club t-shirt?

If you want to buy a women’s medium-sized Club t-shirt, you are in luck!
We have one (and only one) left on sale for $50.
Email us at email committee and if yours is the first email we get, it’s yours!

The Brentwood has always provided wonderful food and we are looking forward to presentations by special people.

Should anyone have challenges with payment for the dinner don’t worry – just let us know.

We hope to see you on 22nd.

Bice and Maryse

Any member interested for which the cost is a significant barrier (e.g., community services card) could contact a member of the committee.

Nigel.

Jane & Daniel Celebration Dinner at 1852 Restaurant in Brooklyn @6pm Thursday 7th August.

Jane and Daniel have recently sold their home and will be looking to move out of Wellington.  
As long- term members they will be missed by us all and I’m sure many of the club members would like to share in the good news for them both.

RSVP by Tuesday night and for the members to email the committee and Sheryl Vibert who will look to confirm numbers and make booking arrangements for Thursday. 

Sheryl has over 12 already signed up from the morning meetup today.

Website and menu link here https://www.1852.co.nz

Dinner Registration

At 1852 Restaurant, Brooklyn, 6pm Thu 7th August

Registration is now closed.

Dinner Seats Reserved

Total Seats reserved 22

Thanks in advance and sorry for the short notice.  

Thanks

Paul Johnson

Runners

As mentioned earlier here are the suggested routes and maps for our next Bus trip on Sunday 27 July, leaving from Paremata/Plimmerton to finish at the Pauatahanui Village with refreshments at the popular Ground-up Café.  Should be an enjoyable scenic route for all.

Runners would get dropped off first at the Plimmerton Domain and then the Walkers would get dropped on the Mana Esplanade by #6 (near the carpark north of the bridge) with the Bus to meet us all at the Pauatahanui Village.

Runners – Plimmerton to Pauatahanui via the Taua Tapu Track (a little under 16.5 km)

The Runners would go through Plimmerton and climb up and over the Taua Tapu track, then heading south along the pathway beside the state highway, then through Camborne on some relatively unknown trails, joining the Camborne Walkway and then around the Pauatahanui Inlet to finish at the Café in the Village.  Route is undulating over the first half and finishes on the flat.

Walkers

Paremata to Pauatahanui via the Camborne Walkway (approx. 7.5 km)

The Walkers would walk the Camborne Walkway (past the boatsheds) and then along the boardwalks and pathways beside Grays Road around the Pauatahanui Inlet.  At the end of Grays Road take the trail on the right through the Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve to finish at the Café in the Village.  Route is largely flat throughout.

A shorter walking option (approx. 5.3 km) would be available with the Bus dropping those off where the Camborne Walkway ends at Grays Road and from there would follow the Walkers route through to the finish. 

The Slower Runners can do the full Walkers route and can add sections as they so desire.

There are toilets situated throughout the routes.

Photos attached are at the beginning of the Camborne Walkway and on the boardwalks around the Inlet.

Any questions, please let me know.

Cheers

Mark

Bus Stops

For new members, or those who have not been on a WRW Bus Trip, check out our article on where the Bus Stops are https://wellyrunwalk.org.nz/bus-trips/bus-stops-for-wrw-bus-trips/
You can also find this page on our website from the Home page
follow the menus… What We Do > Bus Trips > Bus Stops for WRW Bus Trips.

Bus Registration

Registration is now closed.

Seats Reserved

Total Seats reserved 29

Response

Sunday 27th July, was a perfect morning for our bus trip to Pauatahanui. Walkers were dropped off by Paremata Bridge and enjoyed hiking along the boardwalk and round the beautiful inlet, home of so many ducks and other birds. Our destination was Ground Up Cafe at Pauatahanui village for a welcome coffee, a scone, a cake or a full on breakfast.

By then most of the runners had arrived. They had sprinted from Plimmerton Domain over the Taua Tapa Track and through Cambourne.
Winter felt like spring.

Many thanks to the organisers and the patient bus driver.

Sybil Gregson

Several members that attended last week on the 23 March 2025, now have COVID.

To find out all about COVID symptoms, testing, isolation, vaccines, and mask
please go to https://info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/covid-19

30 Mar Bus Trip

Sunday’s bus trip is going ahead.

The WRW committee confirms that our bus trip is going ahead tomorrow as planned. The weather forecast is for sunny weather. Details on the trip can be found here: Bus Trip – Petone 30 Mar 2025.

Further to our earlier message during the week, we are thinking of the 3 members who let us know they’ve been affected by Covid during this week and wish them the best for their recovery. The usual precautions will apply to the bus trip: stay at home if you’re not feeling well, normal good hygiene precautions, and anyone preferring to bring and use a mask on the bus is welcome to do so.”

Thanks,
Nigel

Sunday runs and walks have resumed since Sunday 19 th January, from our usual Matairangi room 8am at the Akau Tangi Sports Centre. The summer weather seems to have finally arrived, great for getting outdoors. Welcome back to all our existing members and we look forward to some new members joining us too.

A few notices below to let you know, and a short account from the walkers:

Otari Bush BBQ – Sunday 2nd March

Again, we aim to hold runs/walks and a BBQ at Otari Bush while the summer weather holds. We would meet in the Otari Bush car park at 8:00 AM, with the BBQ about 10:AM in the clearing with BBQ facilities by the stream. If needing to cancel or defer due to forecast bad weather, we’d plan to send a notice out on the prior Thurs/Friday and then meeting at the Akau Tangi Sports Centre as usual. Please note the planned date is a week later than the earlier date on our 2025 calendar.

The 2025 calendar is now updated.

Easter – Sunday 20th April

The Akau Tangi Sports Centre is currently unavailable to us on Easter Sunday. Current provisional plans are to arrange a trail walk/run, which we’ll likely notify in late February. This would require our own transportation.

Bus Trips

We will again be planning bus trips for this year as they always prove to be successful. The 5 bus trips last year have been popular, with favourable feedback from those who have been, including note of the wonderful routes and maps arranged by Mark Growcott. Should any members have new ideas of where we should go, suggestions would be much appreciated. Such suggestions can be made at any time to Committee members.

Seeking a member with Facebook advertising expertise

The WRW committee is seeking any member with expertise to help us with Facebook advertising of the club. Last year Emily Daly successfully updated aspects of our website and created a Facebook business (Meta) page. Emily will only be occasionally available to help us this year, due to her other work. We are keen to start some advertisement for the club. Please email the committee or speak to one of us if you may be interested or know of someone able to assist.

Sunday walking group – Walk on 19th January, from Sheryl Vibert

We only had a small group, around 10 persons, as was Wellington Anniversary weekend. Sybil was our leader for this walk. We travelled from ASB Stadium to Shelly Bay Road and walked up into the bush. Passed the Miramar Fairy Village, a group of hand-built fairy houses and fairies, lovely. Back onto the car road to the top of hill. Then into Centennial Reserve Bush Walk. A lovely area, but sad did not see any birds or animals. Out of bush onto Nevay Road back down to Park Kitchen, where we indulge in a Hot Chocolate or a coffee, and of course a scone.

Also posted to:

• Wellington Runners and Walkers Facebook public page
• Wellington Runners and Walkers Facebook members’ page
• Instagram
• Meetup

Member’s activities

With spring trying to arrive, we look forward to some great days to get out running & walking.
Congratulations to Alicia who completed the Berlin Marathon. Also, to Robert who ran in the Crater
Rim ultra this month. Amazing!

Key dates to remember

Saturday 2nd November – Annual Dinner
Annual Dinner at the Brentwood Hotel. This was a great event last year so please sign up to the
website page ‘WRW Annual Club Dinner’
or below Latest Posts on the website Home page.
Bice and Maryse have arranged the evening, with a menu aimed to suit all preferences. During the
evening there will be short presentations from members reflecting on their experiences as a runner
or walker.
We need to notify the Brentwood final numbers by this Thursday prior to the dinner, so best to sign
up before then.

8th December – AGM
The AGM provides members to consider what has happened during the past year, but more
importantly consider what the future profile of the Club and its activities will be. It also provides
club members with the opportunity of putting their names forward as Committee membership. The
venue is planned to be at the Akau Tangi Sports Stadium. Could any notices of motion, or brief
walk/runners reports please be sent to the committee by 17 th December.

Thinking of members

There are members of the Club and family of club members who are currently facing challenging
health journeys. Our thoughts are with you all.

Bus Trip

We will again be planning bus trips for next year as they always prove to be successful. The 5 bus
trips this year have been popular, with favourable feedback from those who have been, including
note of the wonderful routes and maps arranged by Mark Growcott. Should any members have new
ideas of where we should go, suggestions would be much appreciated. Such suggestions can be
made at any time to Committee members

Photo: Breaker Bay, last Sunday.

Dear WRW Members,

You’re invited to an evening of camaraderie, delicious food and celebration at our annual Wellington Running and Walking club dinner!

Let’s come together to reflect on our achievements, share stories, and look ahead to another exciting year of movement and friendship.

Date: Saturday 2nd November
Time: 6.00 PM
Location: Brentwood Hotel, 16 Kemp Street, Kilbirnie

Short Member Talks

Hear from a few of our walking & running members as they share their unique running and walking journeys. From overcoming challenges to celebrating personal bests, their stories will inspire you!

Delicious Food & Drink

Enjoy a delightful dinner with fellow members, featuring a variety of tasty options to satisfy all palates.

Connect with your running & walking friends

A wonderful opportunity to meet again to look back on 2024 and inspire each other for the year ahead.

The annual dinner organizers Bice Awan, Maryse Arnell and the WRW committee welcome you to attend, and look forward to seeing you on the evening. The club is again providing partial sponsorship of the event.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Please:
(i) Sign up on the form below, and
(ii) Cost: Members $50, Non-members $60
Payment to Wellington Runners & Walkers (WRW)
Particulars: Name,
Reference: Dinner2024
02-0534-0095446-000

Dinner Registration

Registration is now closed.

Registered

Total Registered

Members: 27
Non-members: 0