Newsletter - 15th February 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 photo was taken by Matt Fawkes on Thursday’s walk. His photo was taken on the crest of the hill to the west of Churton Park, looking across to Mt Kaukau.
Words from...
Our Convenor, David Pegram:
Hello from Napier
I’m sorry not to be walking with the group at the moment. We have a series of overseas visitors who are absorbing our attention and also taking us out of Wellington. I am managing, though, to stay in touch with CPCW activities thanks to communications from a number of people.
Wednesday’s walkers took advantage of the tranquillity of Seton Nossiter Park before work on the Grenada to Petone link road starts. However, if planning for the link road takes as long as Transmission Gully did, I suspect that most of us have a lifetime left to enjoy the park.
The Thursday walks continue to attract healthy numbers and this week they walked 6km, including the Erlestoke Track, on what Christine describes as a ‘stunning evening’. The Thursday walkers always welcome new faces. They meet at 6.50 for 7.00pm outside the Community Centre.
A huge ‘thank you’ to Brian Alderson for organising the Friday walk which was over the Remutaka Rail Trail. It is a beautiful and interesting walk, but has logistic challenges which are not easy to manage.
Walk details for Wednesday February 18th
This Week’s Walks:
Note: Changed starting time instructions!!
A little bit different this week in that we will be catching the 9:05am train from Raroa Station into town and then all meeting up at the Mahatma Ghandi statue that is immediately in front of the main Wellington Station entrance. The walk maps show the start and finish points alongside this statue. As we will be on the same train we will all arrive at this start point together and, after waiting five minutes for those that need the loo before getting to this point, we will all head off to walk along the shore line in the usual three groups. Please remember your Gold Card or, in some cases, your Snapper Card.
PPs: A 3.58km loop walk following the harbour edge around to Oriental Bay and a return via a parallel route alongside the harbour buildings back to the start point at the station. The return to the cars parked nearby to Raroa Station is back on the train. You can see the walk here.
SSs: A 6.58km loop walk, similar to the PP’s walk, but does include a little bit of an excursion into the hillside parts of Oriental Bay before the return to Wellington Station using a parallel route to the outgoing route with a minor detour that takes in a couple of city streets that are near the station. You can see the walk here.
FFs: An 8.00km loop walk that is similar to the SS’s walk but does head a little bit further into the hills above Oriental Bay, including a short portion of the Southern Walkway. You can see the walk on Mapometer here and Plotaroute here.
Parking: The main area of parking is alongside Raroa Park (the park opposite Onslow College and alongside the Malvina Major complex). Once full, parking along the edges of Burma Road will have to be used. It is about a three minute walk to the station using the path that leads off the end of the parking access. (If you are early you could take a risk and see if there is any parking in Fraser Avenue just along from the Raroa Station.) We should all try to be at the station and congregated on the platform by 9:00am.
Coffee: We have not booked coffee anywhere, but we will all be walking past “Trax Café & Bar” at the Wellington Station to get to the Johnsonville Line so all are welcome to head in there for a coffee. Of course, there are always Thyme and Simmer back home.
Train Timetable: The trains run back to Johnsonville every 30 minutes starting at 8:32am so there should be one on hand at 10:32am or 11:02am etc.
Happy walking.
Russell Paterson
Walk Schedules: You can look at the walk schedule for February 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 18th, 25th February | Wednesday Walks |
| Friday 6th March at 5.00pm | Friday Drinks @ Johnsonville Club |
CPCW Photos
Walking for the Week of February 9th 2026:
Summer returned this week and encouraged a good turn-out on Wednesday for various walks in and around Seton Nossiter Park in Paparangi. Thursday walkers headed up the newly extended track between Erlestoke and Chippenham in Churton Park. Brian Alderson led the Friday walkers on an adventure that included a bus trip from the Kaitoke end of the Remutaka Incline walkway to the Cross Creek end in southern Wairarapa, from which walkers did the 18km walk back to the cars.
Please try and remember to take a group photo and send it to info@cpcw.co.nz
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
