Newsletter - 22nd 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 Graham Bentley on the Friday walk during the ascent from York Bay to the ridge. A young, flowering rata vine had survived the downing of the tree on which it was supported. Many trees had come down in the recent southerly storm – see photos below.
A Word from...
Once again, this week has seen Churton Park walkers making their presence felt in the Wellington area; in Petone, Johnsonville and the East Harbour Regional Park on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday respectively. Although we seem to have been cheated of a summer I am hopeful for a long, dry, calm autumn and lots more walking before we have to negotiate winter. Fingers crossed!
And a reminder:
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 25th
This Week’s Walks:
This week we return to one of our nearby suburbs with all three walks based in Khandallah. The PP have a reasonably flat walk that was last used a couple of years back. The SS’s walk is a variation of previous walks. It is quite short which, of course, also means that there is quite a bit of uphill. The walk has a very short section of “track” which is generally dry, with the rest being on footpaths. The FF walk is also a variation of previous walks.
Last week one of the FF walkers (female!) noted that the details of the walk said “Roads and Tracks”. She said she had looked at the maps and could not see any tracks. She needed clarification. So here goes: the black sealed bit we share with cars and trucks is road; the concrete or asphalt bit alongside the road is footpath; where the footpath leaves the road to go to another road it is walkway; when the walkway has no concrete or asphalt it is a track; and if this is in the bush, then it is a bush track. However, if you follow the blue line on your navigating device then you are definitely always on track!!
PP: A loop walk of 3.86km on the streets of Khandallah. The walk is not completely flat but the rises and falls are reasonably gentle. You can see the walk here.
SS: A 4.72km loop walk, heading downwards towards the harbour, is mainly on streets with a large downhill set of steps and then heads back up via a quite short bush section and back to the cars via the uphill Bridle Track and some of the local streets. The walk is not too long which should allow for some stops and a breather or two on the uphill bits. You can see the walk here.
FF: An 7.39km loop walk up into the hills of Khandallah keeping to the streets and walkways. You can see the walk on Mapometer here and Plotaroute here.
Parking: Parking is in our usual spot in Nairnville Park car park and the adjoining streets.
Coffee: Nothing has been organised this week, so it is walkers’ choice with cafes in Khandallah, Ngaio and Johnsonville on the way home and, of course, Simmer and Thyme back at Churton Park.
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.
Our Sponsors
CPCW are very grateful for the support of a number of generous sponsors. They are listed at the end of the newsletter and, periodically, we highlight them through a profile in the newsletter.
This week we have chosen New World Churton Park as our featured sponsor:
New World Churton Park have been generous supporters of CPCW for many years and we are very grateful for their continuing support of our group. Our local supermarket, New World Churton Park, offers a full range of groceries, fruit and vegetables, bakery, deli, meat/fruit and wine/beer. Locally owned, they are the heart of our Churton Park Village.
New World Churton Park, 69 Lakewood Avenue, Churton Park
Mon – Sun: 7.00am to 10.00pm
Phone: 04 478 0270
Calendar of Events
| Wednesday 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 23rd 2026:
As David has outlined, all three walks were completed this week. Wednesday’s photos reflect the groups and their surroundings at and away from Te Awa Kairangi/ Hutt River; Thursday’s walkers were out and about in Johnsonville/Broadmeadows; and the Friday team – still a bit depleted in numbers due to injuries and travel – were guided by Clint on various challenging bush tracks (see Russell’s definitions above!) between Lowry and York Bays and Wainuiomata. The Friday walkers also spent some time on footpaths, roads and walkways. They were also asked to leave a walkway under construction along Marine Drive – there was a temptation to leave a mark from CPCW in the newly poured concrete, but it was resisted!
Please try and remember to take a group photo and send it to info@cpcw.co.nz
Wednesday Walkers:
Thursday Walkers:
Friday Walkers:
