Newsletter - 25th January 2026

Photo of the Week

Each week we will post an image taken by one of our walkers of a scene they spotted on a walk. Generally these images should not include photos of any walkers. Please send any images to info@cpcw.co.nz noting photo of the week in the subject line.

This week’s stunning photo was taken by Wayne Jackson on Matiu/Somes Island.  A totally different perspective on our magnificent city.

A word from...

Wellington was thankfully spared the catastrophic weather that struck further north and Churton Park Walkers were out and about in Johnsonville, Broadmeadows and Khandallah on Wednesday; Tawa on Thursday; and the Hutt Valley Eastern Hills on Friday. 

Twenty-two walkers, in two groups, also paid overnight trips to Matiu/Somes Island. It was lovely to have the opportunity for PP, SS and FF to walk together and, also, socialise.  A delicious shared evening meal, interesting short walks, great company and green parrots in abundance (especially for those walkers who went to Methven) were hallmarks of the trip. A special thank you to Stuart Rowe who organised a visit from the Police Launch. The tour inside the vessel was extremely interesting and the crew incredibly welcoming. I understand that making the step from the boat back onto the wharf was a highlight for some of the ladies, who allowed themselves to be rather shamelessly manhandled by handsome men in uniform (or so I am told, I’m no judge of these things). If you were unable to go on this trip I am planning to provide another opportunity in two years’ time. 

Walking Logs 

Two points of clarification. Firstly, any walk or activity that has been advertised through a CPCW newsletter is eligible for inclusion in the log. Secondly, any CPCW walk in January can be included in the log. In case you have not recorded January walks these are the details I have.

Wednesday 7th & 14th (I don’t have the distances but can find out if necessary

Wednesday 21st:  PP 4.8km, SS 5.8km, FF 7.0km

Thursday 8th  5.4km, 15th 6.3km, 22nd 6.3km

Friday 2nd  12.3km, 9th 12.2km, 23rd 12.0km

There was one organised walk on Somes Island which I clocked as 2.2km.

The first pins go in the map, and the first of the spot prizes presented, at coffee on Wednesday 25 February.

David Pegram, Convenor

Walk details for Wednesday January 28th

This Week’s Walks:  We head to town whilst all the schools and the university  are still on holiday and the traffic is lighter. The walks will take in a bit of the south coast and are worth the slightly longer drive.  We will be back closer to home the following week. The three walks will all start from Seatoun Park at 9:20am. (Probably about 35 minutes drive from Churton Park.)

PPs:  A 4.81 loop walk that takes in the south coast, a climb up a sandhill (not too strenuous) and a stroll through some modern housing.  Apart from the sandhill track the walk is generally flat. You can see the walk here.

SSs:  A 6.08km loop walk that heads around the coast with a bit of a hill early on and then along the south coast and then a climb to a First World War Memorial, along a high level track and then down some steps to the cars.  You can see the walk here.

FFs:  A 7.59km loop walk that starts with a warm up around the residential properties and then along the south coast, a stiff climb up steps, then along a high level track to the First World War monument and then back along the coastal road to the cars.  You can see the walk on Mapometer here and Plotaroute here.

Parking:  The parking is on the road along the western side of Seatoun Park.  Ludlam Street, the main street through Seatoun, is the second on the right when you come out of the tunnel.  Head straight ahead and Seatoun Park is on the right.  Generally plenty of parking.

Coffee:  There are cafés in Seatoun, but nothing is booked.  There are others in adjoining suburbs and, of course, Simmer and Thyme back home.

Happy walking.

Russell Paterson

Walk Schedules:   You can look at the walk schedule for January 2026 here.  

Reminder:    Please ensure that you inform your group’s leader if you leave a walk partway through.

Cancellations:   If the walks are cancelled an email will be sent out as early as possible but definitely before 8:00am.

Calendar of Events

Wednesday 28th JanuaryWednesday Walk 
Wednesday 4th FebruaryWednesday Walk 
Friday 6th February (Waitangi Day) at 5.00pmFriday Drinks @ Johnsonville Club
  
  

CPCW Photos

Wednesday Walkers

A week on which all three walks were back on the schedule – and completed without cancellation.  The three Wednesday groups headed out and about from Johnsonville in various directions and over varying distances.

Please try and remember to take a group photo and send it to info@cpcw.co.nz

The SSs were caught by John Gibson. All nicely aligned as if they are awaiting a bowling ball to come at them and score a perfect 10!
Mike Drain captured the PPs. They must have been naughty on Wednesday as it seems that they have been confined within an enclosure. But not nearly as naughty as those FFs who failed to provide a photo at all!

Two Sojourns on Somes

Two groups of CPCW members enjoyed an overnight stay on Matiu/Somes Island and a new perspective on the city in which we live.  As David has outlined earlier in the newsletter, there was good walking, fine food/drink, great conviviality and much laughter.  Tuesday night’s group were offered a birds-eye view of joint exercises undertaken by a RNZAF helicopter with the police launch, Lady Elizabeth IV, during both afternoon and evening.  Wednesday night’s group went one step further and were all taken into custody on board the launch at the Matiu wharf, only to be released after intense interrogation.  Hope the launch was cleared by Biosecurity!!  Here is a very small selection of the wonderful photos taken by the two groups:

This photo, and the one following, were taken by the DOC rangers on arrival - once we had been passed as not a biosecurity threat to the island. Little did they know!
The groups both dined very well - nibbles, mains and desserts were enjoyed greatly. David, who chaperoned both groups, was pressed to make a judgement on which MasterChef team scored highest. Ever the diplomat, he judged a tie! These two photos were taken by Rowena and Jane.
360 degree views from the island were stunning by day, but especially by night. These two photos capture the atmosphere of the islands and were taken by Duncan and Wayne respectively.
All walkers who traversed one of the western paths contended with a very protective mother gull whose sizeable chick was not yet able to fly. David captured the two juxtaposed and also caught the colouring of the skink in the next photo.
A seal was spotted by both groups - cavorting off-shore by the first group and here, snoozing, by the second group. Gay caught the snoozer and she also got the great shot of the kakariki who were very flighty and much more difficult to photograph.
Entertainment was provided by RNZAF for Day 1 visitors, here caught by Bill during one of their exercises "rescuing" someone from the water off Lowry Bay. Day 2 visitors were granted a visit by the police launch, Lady Elizabeth IV, courtesy of Stu R. The two following photos are courtesy of Annie VH. Was Rowena truly in need of so much assistance from these two young policemen??!!

Thursday Walkers

On Thursday the group of keen walkers headed out in Tawa.

Gillian Mills provided this photo of the Thursday team looking as splendid as the flowers alongside which they are posed.

Friday Walkers

For the third Friday walk of 2026, the groups were led by Gary from Te Whiti Park, Waiwhetu, through the suburbs of Waterloo and Fairfield to Naenae and then up the “Waddington Winder” through some magnificent native bush and then along the crest of the ridge and down the Te Whiti Riser (very familiar territory to Wednesday walkers) and back to the cars.  A great walk of 11.6km and, for Gary, a very modest elevation!

Bill photographed the later group on their way up the Waddington Winder...
... and then on their descent from the Te Whiti Riser Summit.
Hue caught them at the summit with Lower Hutt City and its western hills in the background.
From the summit this image shows Waterloo Road running in a straight line from the transport hub in the foreground to Queensgate.
Looking to the east is Wainuiomata. Both unremarkable photos taken by Bill capture our grey summer.
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