Here are the suggested routes and maps for the Runners and Walkers. Should be an enjoyable trip
for all, some may remember venturing out this way in April 2023. The routes are moderately
undulating through beautiful native bush, on mostly well-formed tracks and on local streets. Note
there are no toilets at the start. Good footwear is essential and Poles will be useful for the Walkers
that use them.

Bus Drop-off – Oriel Ave near the corner with Achilles Close (opposite 94 Oriel Ave)
Bus Pick-up – Main Rd Tawa (near the Library)

Everyone will get dropped off on Oriel Ave and the bus will then meet us on the Main Rd of Tawa
somewhere near the Library and the Borough Café for our return trip back into the city (departing
approx. 12:30PM).

The “Borough Café” will again be our venue for refreshments and food afterwards.
There are other food options on the Main Rd too if “The Borough” is busy etc.

Runners – Tawa including Spicer Botanical Park (Approx. 13.5 km)

Runners will do trails on the Western side of Tawa and at the foot of Colonial Knob in the Spicer
Botanical Park.
Beginning in Redwood Bush Reserve off Achilles Close,
turn right heading towards Peterhouse St
Cross Peterhouse St. and a little way up enter Larsen Cres Reserve.
Exit at the top of Larsen Cres and
go down Larsen Cres and turn left into Kiwi Cres.
At 58 Kiwi Cres, go down the driveway and enter
the “Te Ngahere-o-Tawa” track.
Travel up the orange track which is a gradual climb.
At the end of this track, cross Spicer Reserve Rd and travel up the track towards Colonial Knob.
Take the Seven Pines Track down to Spicer Botanical Park, turn left at the reservoir and then a little time later, turn
right onto “The Doctor”.
At the end of “The Doctor” travel up to the Farm Rd and then go down the
Farm Rd and then turn right onto “Spicer Link” to reach Spicer Botanical Park.
Cross Broken Hill Rd and travel up “Te Ara Tai Tonga” and exit down to Chastudon Place.
Turn left into Deveron Place and down the steps, crossing over Davidson Cres and down the steps to the Main Rd. Head south through Grasslees Reserve onto Oxford St.,
right into Cambridge St. to the café on the Main Rd.

Walkers – Tawa (Approx. 6.2 km)

Beginning in Redwood Bush Reserve off Achilles Close,
turn right heading towards Peterhouse St. Cross Peterhouse St. and a little way up enter Larsen Cres Reserve.
Exit at the top of Larsen Cres and go down Larsen Cres and turn left into Kiwi Cres.
At 58 Kiwi Cres, go down the driveway and enter
the “Te Ngahere-o-Tawa” track.
Travel up the orange track which is a gradual climb. At the end of this track,
turn right, heading north and travel down Spicer Reserve Rd,
at the bottom turning onto the trail on the right.
Follow this trail and exit down the trail to Chastudon Place (extra care needed here).
Head down Victory Cres, near the bottom, turn left (between #10 & #12),
down the path to the Main Rd.
Cross the Main Rd and head north and then right into Grasslees Reserve and exit onto Oxford St.
Head south on Oxford St. turning right into Cambridge St. to the café on the Main Rd.

For those Walkers wanting an easier/shorter walk, there are a couple of options which I can provide
on the day.

Runners (Slower Running Group) – Tawa (Approx. 7.5 km)

The slower Runners will largely do the same route as the Walkers with an added extension in
Tawa/Linden.
Heading down Victory Cres, turn left into Deveron Place and down the steps,
crossing over Davidson Cres and down the steps to the Main Rd.
Head north along the Main Rd and take the path on your right just before 294A.
Follow the path beside the Porirua stream all the way to the Linden Community Centre.
Turn right on Collins Ave and cross the Railway line and then turn right onto Hinau St.
Head south on Hinau St. which becomes Duncan St. all the way to the Tawa Railway
Station.
Cross the footbridge there and head down Cambridge St. to the café on the Main Rd.

Bus Registration

Seats Reserved

Total seats reserved: 12

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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

Help needed?

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Once again Maryanne and I made the annual pilgrimage to Westport (this year was my 34th trip to Westport) to
take part in the 43rd Buller Gorge Marathon weekend.

Over the years we have competed in the full marathon, half marathon and in the latter years as part of a team doing the marathon relay. Four years ago, a 10km was introduced and Maryanne and I entered this event which takes place on the newly formed Kawatiri Coastal Trail. Since the forming of this trail four years ago progress has been made and the trail now extends as far as Charleston.

Sadly this year I had some back issues the week leading up to the race and after having a terrible sleep on the Friday night on a mattress with a hollow in the middle and which probably should have been put out to pasture long ago, I woke with a terrible back pain and there was no way that I was going to be able to run, so for another
year I had to contend with being a spectator.

Again we travelled down on the 2am Bluebridge crossing Wednesday morning and drove through to Nelson where
we stayed with our friends in Stoke and then travelled down to Westport on Friday morning. As usual we stopped
in Murchison for lunch and after leaving Murchison we then struck heavy rain which accompanied us to Westport.
After a mad dash in the rain to pick up our race packs we then headed out to our accommodation at Carters
Beach.

Saturday morning and the weather was fine with a light breeze for everyone to contend with. At prizegiving we
were informed that the numbers were slightly up on the previous year with 1012 entrants up from the 900 in 2025.

In the full marathon there were 107 finishers,
half marathon run 411 and 89 in the half marathon walk,
50 four-person marathon relay teams and
in the 10km, 205 runners and walkers.

The attendance has dropped over the past few years, down from the early day when there were 900+ entries in the half marathon alone. As the event fell on Valentines Day this year every finisher received a special Valentine Day medal and a drink bottle.

Again the prize giving was well run with a good number of major spot prizes drawn out and this year our friend
Meryl from Nelson won one of the four $1000 travel vouchers.

Maryanne had a good run in the 10km with a time of 1:12:20.
Also taking part this year from Wellington Runners and Walkers were
Liz Morrison 1:15.08;
Carol Douce 1:25.07 and
Ann Stewart 1:26.17.

Next year is the 44th running of this event and will take place on Saturday 13th February 2027.

John Palmer

Are you coming on our first bus trip for the year? And did you get your 20% discount off your
sub? Check out what’s coming up in March …

Bus Trip – Whareroa Farm

Check out the Bus Trip Whareroa Farm article and Registration Form

Subs

Be in super quick for a sub-perb discount!

If you’ve paid your sub before 1 March 2026 – congratulations!
You’ve saved yourself $10 – a whopping 20% discount on our already-more-than-reasonable $50 annual subscription fee.

If you haven’t paid your sub yet, get cracking! You’re still getting a good deal.
To pay your sub, follow the instructions on our membership page.
WRW membership

Active together at Otari

Check out the Otari-Wilton Bush BBQ 2026

What’s coming up next month

Put this date in your diary! On Sunday 12 April we’ve got our second bus trip to Baring
Head.
About Baring Head

And for the dates and details of what we are up to for the rest of 2026, check out our
calendar.
Wellington Runners and Walkers 2026 Calendar

Get in touch

If there’s anything you’d like to know, or suggest, about the Club – talk with a committee
member at our Sunday meet up.
 Nigel Raymond (President)
 Paul Johnson (Vice-President)
 Tasi Takuira-Mita (Treasurer)
 Wendy Kale (Secretary)
 Gordon Clarke
 Judith Llewellyn
 Toni Finkle
You can also email us at: committee@wellyrunwalk.org.nz

Our annual Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush barbeque was a great example of the way we combine being
active and social.
Some of us explored the different tracks in the reserve, while others headed off into the
surrounding hills. The weather was great. And the sausages tasted extra good after a bit of
exercise. A big thanks to Toni for organising the food and drink!
And it was nice to catch up with some of our previous members who joined us, too!

Sheryl, Dennis and Sybil

Brian and Leang

Toni, Wendy, Gordy, Tasi and Nigel

Dennis and Christine

Gordy and Roberta

The bus will leave at 8 am from Ākau Tangi, stopping as needed at our usual bus stops. If this is your first trip, check out our Bus Trip Adventures page.

Bus Trip Adventures

Plans for Whareroa Farm

by Mark Growcott
I suggest the Bus drops everyone off just inside Queen Elizabeth Park at MacKays Crossing and remains there till we are ready to depart.  While there is a carpark at nearby Whareroa Farm there is no ideal spot for the Bus to park up.  There are also toilets nearby at Queen Elizabeth Park. 

Everyone can then exit the park, cross the railway line and go along the footpath towards the Whareroa Farm entrance.

The link below gives a comprehensive map of Whareroa Farm

Walkers (incl slower runners)

I have attached a smaller map along with a suggested route (clockwise direction in red) for the Walkers (and slower Runners) taking in many of the main features of the Farm, including some of those with a red star (these can be printed off).

The suggested route is approx. 6km and includes the Coastal Lookout Walk, Forest Loop Walk, Link Track, visiting the Dell and Caravan, the Ramaroa Wetland Track and Te Ara Ramaroa Track. The route while undulating is not difficult. The tracks are well signposted and there are 2 small shallow streams to cross.

Those Walkers wanting an easier walk can walk up the Farm Race to the Caravan/Dell and return as they like.

Main Running Group

The Runners will do many of the same trails as the Walkers and will go up the Link track to the Lookout and beyond before later descending. Depending on progress, the Runners can finish up running various trails in Queen Elizabeth Park before returning to the waiting Bus.

It should be an enjoyable day with much to see to fill in the time. The toilets in the Farm are situated near the Caravan.

The Café stop on the way home can be in Paekakariki, there are 3 Cafés there to suit.

I have also attached photos. Let me know if you require anything further, let’s hope we get a nice day.

Cheers

Mark

Registration Form

Reservations are closed.

There are a few things we need to know. Dogs are not allowed. We need to take our own drinking water. The main car park toilets are closed, so we’ll manage those needs using some alternatives.

Bookings

Total Seats reserved 24

About Whareroa Farm

If you are not sure if your registration has gone through. it probably has. come back and refresh the page after a 5 minute break. If you have registered more seats than you need, or need assistance, please use the Contact Us form

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 Wellington Runners & Walkers AGM will be held at the Akau Tangi Sports Centre,
Matairangi room at 10.30 am on Sunday 14 th December.
We’ll still meet up as usual at 8am for the preceding ‘Turkey Trot’ walk or run, with winners &
prizes announced at the AGM. A light morning tea will be provided.

Motions from members
Any motion of notice requiring a vote needs to be submitted in writing to the Committee not
less than 21 days before the date of the meeting (by 23 rd November).

Committee elections
New members of the Committee are sought, particularly for the vacant roles of secretary and
general members. Existing members will be happy to provide information.
The Committee is comprised of the officers (president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer)
and at least two other members.

Current committee members available for re-election are Aliitasi Takuira-Mita (Treasurer),
Gordon Clarke, Nigel Raymond (president), Paul Johnson.
Current committee members stepping down are Jane O’Connell, Mikey Clarke, Sheryl
Vibert, Sybil Gregson.

Further information
An agenda and reports will be sent out before the AGM.
The club’s rules are available on our website https://wellyrunwalk.org.nz/charter-rules/ .

AGM Files

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.

• Sunday 8am meet-up 9^th November – Ngake/Whataitai rooms
• Annual Dinner 22^nd November
• AGM 14^th December
• T-shirts
• October Te Whiti bus trip review

Sunday 9^th November – 8 am

meet-up will be in the combined Ngake/Whataitai rooms.

On Sunday 9^th November we won’t have access to the Matairangi room at the Akau Tangi
Sports Centre, being one of the few days during the year when the room was unavailable for
to us to book.

Instead, Tasi has booked the combined Ngake/Whataitai rooms. So just carry
on past the Matairangi room to the far end of the stadium (Cobham Drive end). We’ll have
our regular 8am start there, then head out together for our typical walks or runs as usual.

Annual Dinner – Saturday 22^nd November
The WRW annual dinner will be held on Saturday 22^nd November at the Brentwood Hotel, 16 Kemp Street.

This has been a highlight each year from the accounts of those attending, a great opportunity to catch up with other members.

The meal will start at 6pm, so it’s suggested to arrive by 5.45pm or before. There are
planned to be two club member speakers during the evening. There will be a tasty menu,
with options to suit varied dietary preferences.

Thanks again to Bice and Maryse for organizing.

The evening is again substantially subsidized by the club.
You can sign up on the website by selecting the link here.
Please book soon to assist with planning;
the last day to book your place will be Wednesday 19^th November (to let the hotel know).

Annual General Meeting (AGM) – Sunday 14^th December
The AGM will be held
at the Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Matairangi room
at 10.30 am
on Sunday 14^th December.
We’ll still meet up as usual at 8am
for the preceding ‘Turkey Trot’ walk or run, with winners & prizes announced at the AGM.
A light morning tea will be provided.
Any motion of notice requiring a vote needs to be submitted in writing to the Committee not
less than 21 days before the date of the meeting (by 23^rd November).
An agenda and information will be sent out before the AGM.

WRW T-shirts
The new WRW T-shirts have now been distributed to most of those who pre-ordered them.
With spring and summer arriving, there should be more opportunity to use them!

Bus Trip – Te Whiti Park 05 Oct

The last of five bus trips during the year was to Te Whiti Park area. Fortunately, the weather
held as there had been rain beforehand. The keen runners were dropped off to run up trails
behind NaeNae. The walkers mostly headed up the Te Whiti Riser trail, for some great views
over Lower Hutt. While a bit slippery underfoot, it was certainly worth the effort, and
rewarded by coffee in Petone.