Waiheke Walking Festival steps it up

The second annual Waiheke Walking Festival has more than doubled its numbers with nearly 1100 people signed up to get out in the fresh air.

Visitors from the other side of the world have been arriving at our shores and tramping our tracks as part of the nine-day event that ends on Sunday.

Organiser Jenness Reeve says last year's festival mostly attracted day trippers. But some enthusiasts are staying for a week this year and going on five or six walks which can last from an hour to two days at varying levels of fitness.

 

Riddles and Ribbons: International storyteller Tanya Batt, left, weaves her tales 

while the Lady of Spring hands out fresh flowers to children 

on the Rainbow Story Walk as part of the Waiheke Walking Festival.

"We have people who registered from Hawaii, the United States, Canada, Germany, England, Scotland, Portugal and other parts of New Zealand. And people haven't been put off by the weather forecast. We've had northerlies, nor' easterlies, nor' westerlies and rain predicted all week but hardy walkers often walk in the rain."

Daily "prescription walks" are also part of the menu, with doctors doing their bit to encourage patients that exercise can contribute to a healthy lifestyle, Mrs Reeve says. And kids haven't been left out either. They found a magical world of fairies, butterflies and flowers on the Rainbow Story Walk at a secret lake.

Professional storyteller Tanya Batt sprang out of the bush with riddles to solve. Correct answers earned children ribbons as they followed the track around the lake to collect the colours of the rainbow. Participants then tied their ribbons on to a rope and pulled the Lady of Spring to shore where she handed out fresh flowers.

More than 85 trampers are expected to do the Walk to the Top of the World which concludes the festival. "Nearly every walk so far has been booked out, but everyone is invited to Promenade the Esplanade to raise funds for St John on Sunday," Mrs Reeve says. 

Source: Auckland Now - 2nd November 2011

Official Website: http://www.waihekewalkingfestival.org/

See More: http://walkingfestivals.blogspot.com/2011/01/waiheke-island-walking-festival.html