Sunday 9 March 2025

Leader: Susan Robertson

The Tararua Challenge provided an opportunity for club members to explore some of the more remote and demanding areas of the Tararuas.

This trip offered an opportunity to do something completely different – an easy day trip in an urban environment - while the Challenge was underway. The marketing spiel on club night played on this theme. Needing respite from those unforgiving Tararua ranges? Wanting to eat real food? Sleep in your own bed? Luxuriate in a morning shower? Savour the marvels of modern internal plumbing? Then this trip is for you.

We started walking from the Wellington railway station just after 9.30am and headed up Bowen Street into the Botanical Gardens, past the cable car and down onto Kelburn Parade. Dave knew a shortcut through the university which took us past the lovely old Hunter Building. From there we sauntered down into Aro Valley and the first stop of the day – coffee and cake at the Aro Street Café.

After morning tea we powered up the track from Aro Street to Tanera Park, walked through Central Park and crossed into Prince of Wales Park for another break to take in the panoramic views over the city, harbour and surrounding hills, before seeking out the normal track onwards.

At this point, life became interesting. The walkway was blocked by an official sign telling us to take the alternative route. The designers of the sign had, helpfully, provided a detailed map. Somewhat less helpfully they had failed to mark the alternative route on the map or even the “you are here” spot… which defeated the purpose of providing the map.

How many Parawai members does it take to find the best alternative route, in an urban setting, with multiple choices, when the original plan has turned to custard? The skilled navigators among us went into a huddle. As an outcome of these deliberations we spent an interesting half hour exploring the pretty streets of west Brooklyn, enjoying lovely views out over the city (and people’s backyards), came to a stop at the end of a cul-de-sac, formed another huddle, turned about, retraced our steps, headed back into Prince of Wales Park, admired the views once again, and dropped down (more directly than planned) into the Newtown streets.

After this adventure we were hungry and in need of our picnic lunch break. We walked up Constable Street (with some people stopping at the Mediterranean Food Warehouse to supplement their lunch) and joined the Southern Walkway at Alexandra Road to find a shady lunch spot.

From there we followed the shared walk/cycle path along the ridgeline to the peak of Mt Victoria. This took about an hour. We then walked down the tracks and onto Oriental Parade. Brandon walked ahead and had a dip in the sea while many of us enjoyed an ice cream or milkshake from the street cart. It was then a short walk back to the railway station, arriving at about 4.00pm.

This was a good day out, in great company, involving about 5 hours of actual walking with stunning scenery and views.

Those on the trip were:

Brandon Holman, Chris Keating, Dave Cox, Geoff Scrase, Glenda Robb, John Glover, Kate Livingston, Maryann Bugg, Pam Glover, Patrick Liss, Sigi Scrase, Susan Robertson, Tony Quayle

Currently there is no photo album for this trip.