Newsletter - 5th April 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 Hue Ng at the end of the Friday walk – City to Sea – nearing the south coast.

A Word from our convenor...

Walking the North Island

It is lovely to see a bunch of Churton Park walkers gradually spreading out from Wellington and making their way up the North Island. If you have not done so already, do have a look at this map on the website (clicking on each pin will reveal who the walker is and what their destination is). It’s a particular relief to see that Christine Binns has successfully navigated the rockfalls in the Manawatu Gorge and is now striding purposefully through the northern Wairarapa on her way to Napier. Keith Thomas also gets a special mention for overcoming injury. He is now beginning to accelerate up the Kapiti Coast on his way to Hamilton. Comments on the progress of other walkers may well follow in subsequent newsletters.

Also:

If you are keeping a written record of the distances you are walking and have yet to enter data on the website it is very easy to register.
If you have already registered on the website but haven’t updated your distance recently, please find a spare minute to do so.
If you haven’t joined in the walk across the North Island yet it’s not too late to backdate walking distances. The table below provides current distances in 2026. Your update will take only a few minutes!

There is a choice of six destinations to aim for: Masterton 101km, Palmerston North 143km, Whanganui 184km, Napier 307km, Taupō 362km and Hamilton 512km.

Spot prizes will begin to come into play in the next few weeks.

Friday Drinks

The April Friday drinks are this coming Friday, April 11, and are, as usual, at the Johnsonville Club at 5pm.

A note for the Steady Steppers

The Steady Steppers is the largest group of walkers and it is almost unavoidable that the group gets spread out during the walk on Wednesdays. In order to ensure individuals do not get lost, and also that assistance is on hand should anyone get injured or sick, I suggest the following:

Always walk with a map or with someone who has a map; do approach one of the committee members if you would like instruction on how to download a walk to your phone – or a refresher!
Never walk by yourself, but at least with one other person and, preferably, in a group
When you come to a road or track junction wait until the people behind you can see which turning you are taking
Consider walking with the (slower) Fast Footers or the Pleasure Pacers; both are delightful groups of walkers!

David Pegram, Convenor

CPCW Walks for 2026

Walk details for Wednesday April 8th

This Week’s Walks:

School holidays are happening for the next two Wednesdays so we have assumed that traffic will be lighter and are hoping that we can head to town and all can get to the walk on time without any major problems. We are repeating the Brooklyn walks again with all three walks starting at the Tanera Park carpark in Brooklyn. There are plenty of carparks which support the two football fields that are used in winter. The carparks are a little bit isolated and, whilst we do not see that this will be a problem, please make sure your vehicle is locked with no valuables in view. Access to the carpark area is easy if you use the following route: “Head up Brooklyn Road and at the first intersection on the right turn down into Ohiro Road. Then head down the hill; veer left into Tanera Road and then, about 150m down the road, head into the driveway on the right and you will end up at the carpark beside the two football fields. If you stay on Tanera Road you will miss the entrance to the parking area.” A map of the route to the parking area is shown here.

These walks will start at 9:20am from the designated starting point which is Tanera Park carpark.

PP: A 3.78km loop walk with a leg out and back from the loop. We have tried to avoid having to cross any major road apart from where the crossings are at traffic lights. The walk takes in Brooklyn’s War memorial. You can see the walk here.

SS: A 4.28km loop walk mainly on streets. The walk maybe a bit shorter than usual, but this is made up for with some reasonable rises. The walk takes in Brooklyn’s War memorial. You can see the walk here.

FF: A 6.69km figure eight loop walk mainly on streets with all muddy wet tracks avoided, as is the crossing of busy streets apart from where they are supported by lights. You can see the walk on Mapometer here and on Plotaroute here.

Parking: Parking for all three groups is in the Tanera Park carpark. See the directions and map that are set out above.

Coffee: As there are no local coffee bars that can take our numbers we have not reserved anywhere. Coffee is walker’s choice, with Simmer and Thyme always a choice back at home. There are also about three cafés in Brooklyn if walkers want to try the local brew.

Happy walking.

Russell Paterson

Walk Schedules: You can look at the walk schedule for April 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.

2026 Calendar of Events


Wednesday 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th April	Wednesday Walks in April Click here for details.
Friday 10th April at 5.00pm NB: As Good Friday was April 3rd (1st Friday in the month) drinks have been postponed for one week this month.	Friday Drinks @ Johnsonville Club
Saturday 25th July	CPCW Anniversary Dinner @ Johnsonville Bowling Club
November	CPCW “Away Walks” Whangārei

CPCW Photos

Walking for the Week of March 30th 2026:

The week’s walks were all completed uneventfully – Wednesday’s walkers were out and about in Khandallah and surrounds; Thursday’s team were in Newlands, in and out of Seton Nossiter Park; and Friday’s group headed south from the Cenotaph along the City to Sea walkway, finishing in Island Bay for coffee.

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