Newsletter - 15th March 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 Melanie Murray on the Thursday in the ever-decreasing area of pine forest to the north-east of Churton Park.

A Word from...

This has been a mixed week of walking. The weather on Wednesday was calm and cool; perfect conditions for our walks in Whitby. The Thursday evening walkers also had calm conditions for walking for their 5.7km walk on roads and tracks around Churton Park. The weather turned, though, on Friday and regrettably, but wisely, the proposed walk in the East Harbour Hills was cancelled.

On Wednesday, the slower FF group said that they enjoyed their loop so much that they decided to attempt a second lap. I suspect, though, that in reality they just mis-read the map! As a result, we missed coffee and the opportunity to put pins in the map. My apologies! The next opportunity for updating your position will be at coffee on Wednesday 1 April. (I shall be keeping a strict eye out to make sure there is no fooling around with the pins!)

CPCW Tramps 2026/27

Attention CPCW trampers, but also attention walkers as the second proposal is a walk rather than a tramp.

The following three tramps are proposed for some time in the next 12 months or so. Only the date for Cape Brett is fixed. If you are interested in any of these tramps can you please let me know (David.Pegram.nz@gmail.com) by Sunday 29 March and I’ll then try to find a meeting date and time that suits us all (hopefully some time after Easter). At the meeting we will make decisions on the time of year, routes, accommodation etc. In the meantime, I’m also happy to answer any questions.

1 Cape Brett

This is probably a one night/two day tramp immediately after the Away Walk at Whangārei in November. We need to book the hut and water transport. DoC Info.

2 Queen Charlotte Track

The track is a rather daunting 73km long, but the water taxi carries luggage each day; accommodation can be as luxurious as you wish; and the third day, which is quite arduous, can be done by water taxi ($60) and it is possible to shorten the walk at either end. There is information here about the track and here about the water taxi and luggage transfer.

3 Nelson Lakes

A visit to the Nelson Lakes National Park would definitely be tramping rather than walking. The Travers/Sabine loop, Blue Lake, Waiau Pass and Angelus Hut/Angelus Peak are all possibilities. DoC Info.

David Pegram, Convenor

Walk details for Wednesday March 18th

This Week’s Walks:

Some walkers mentioned the lack of hills last week. Well, this week’s walks, being located in Petone, are even flatter.! There are not a lot of hills in Petone. We will move back to where there are some hills next week. The FF and SS walks are a little longer than most weeks to make up for the lack of hills. The walks are similar or the same as walks of the past.

PP: A loop walk of 4.78km on a track taking in the bank of the Te Mome Stream which is along the edge of the Shandon Golf Club and then returning via typical Petone residential streets. You can see the walk here.

SS: A 6.25km loop walk heading northwards on the track that follows Te Mome Stream and returning via the track that follows the bank of the Hutt River. Again basically flat. You can see the walk here.

FF: An 8.51km loop walk that initially follows the bank of the Waiwhetu Stream and returns following the bank of the Hutt River. All on good quality tracks. You can see the walk on Mapometer here and Plotaroute here.

Parking: Parking is in our usual spot in Marine Parade. Turn right off Waione Street immediately before the Gull Service Station which will bring you into Kirkcaldy Street and then left into Marine Parade. Find a park as near to the eastern end as you can. We generally have to spread out most of the length of Marine Parade. (There is a safe right turn waiting area for the turn into Kirkcaldy Street.)

Coffee: Coffee will be at Columbus Coffee, Mitre 10 Mega, Petone. They seem to deal with our numbers very well. We will advise them that a group of us will be arriving.

Happy walking.

Russell Paterson

Walk Schedules: You can look at the walk schedule for March 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 March	Wednesday Walks Click here for details.
Friday 10th April at 5.00pm NB: As Good Friday is April 3rd (1st Friday in the month) drinks have been postponed for one week this month.	Friday Drinks @ Johnsonville Club

CPCW Photos

Walking for the Week of March 9th 2026:

As David has outlined, Wednesday’s walks were all in Whitby on walks plotted by Andy Dunn. Lots of beautifully tended gardens, interesting wildlife and the Pāuatahanui Inlet which looked like the proverbial mill pond!

Thursday’s group were up into the hills above Churton Park having fun, as is usual. In the evening they can be as daring as they choose – the foresters’ Health & Safety Officer has retired for the night!

And sometimes it seems that a walk is fated by bad weather. This week was the second time in 2026 that the Friday walkers had attempted to walk from Lowry Bay over the hill and into Wainuiomata and back. Score 2:0 to bad weather.

We also have some photos from the previous week taken by Rowena of the SSs on the Wednesday walk and those who attended the Friday March drinks. Rowena apologises for her tardiness – entirely reasonable as she and Stu were shortly departing for an overseas journey. Travel safely.

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