Newsletter - 26th October 2025
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 Wendy Bentley on Friday’s walk. Following a trap-line up the ridge from the toilet near the Butterfly Creek picnic area, walkers came across the tiny “Stan’s Hut”. The front page of “The Hutt News” was fixed to the wall along with much other interesting “stuff”. The paper is dated Tuesday February 28, 1978 – back in the days when we still had landlines and they were only six digits! See below for more of Wendy’s great photos.
A word from...
A huge thank you to Bill for ‘looking after the shop’ while Wayne and I were away on our extended trip overseas. I am extremely grateful for Bill’s cheerful willingness to take on my responsibilities in addition to the substantial weekly tasks he already undertakes for the walking group.
Despite a week of eventful weather all our scheduled walks went ahead this week. The Wednesday walks were well attended and saw five different groups tackling the streets and paths around Crofton Downs. On Thursday evening 5 walkers braved the dying winds for a walk around Churton Park. The Friday walk was in the Eastbourne Hills. Regular Friday walkers are used to interpreting Gary’s route descriptions. For instance ‘steepish’ translates as ‘vertical’ and ‘gently undulating’ means ‘endlessly up and down’. So when the track for this Friday’s walk was described as a ‘sometimes indistinct trail’ we read that as ‘non-existent’ and we were not wrong. However, good map reading, (especially from Graham and Wendy in the early group), and a degree of determination, saw everyone make it safely to the end, although not without the occasional loss of blood!
In the coming week, those who are going on the Away Walk to Methven will gradually start to head south. There are two smaller groups who are taking advantage of being in the South Island and undertaking tramps before the Away Walk starts. One group is walking at Kaikoura and the other hopes to be crossing the Southern Alps via a low pass which runs parallel to Arthur’s Pass. I wish everyone venturing south safe travels, great walking and, above all, some enjoyable days of friendship and socialising.
November Friday drinks coincides with the Away Walk. However, this will still go ahead for those staying in Wellington
David Pegram, Convenor
Walk details for Wednesday October 29th
This Week’s Walks: The walks are in Queen Elizabeth Park and, for some, part of the nearby residential streets of Paekakariki. The walks will start at 9:20am from the designated point within QE II Park. (Please note that those who wish can stay after their walk and share a picnic with other walkers. You will have to bring your own coffee, tea and scones!) If the weather does not play its part there are two or three cafés in Paekakariki and others on the way home.
PPs: A 3.79 km walk which includes a walk down the beach to the Paekakariki Township and a return via the residential streets back to the starting point. Definitely flat. You can see the walk here.
SSs: A 5.74km loop walk which heads north on the QE II part of the Te Araroa Trail and back via the Te Araroa Whareroa Trail and some residential streets. All the tracks are typical sand dune tracks or better. You can see the walk here.
FFs: A 7.73km loop walk on walking tracks and the beach. North on the sand dune trails and back via the beach. You can see the walk on Mapometer here and Plotaroute here.
Parking: Either drive north via SH59 (the old coastal SH1 route); or travel via Transmission Gully and take the Paekakariki exit at the north end of the Saddle and then head back south to Paekakariki. Cross the railway lines into Paekakariki, turn right into Wellington Road and head to the end. Enter QE II Park and then look for parking on the left. The start and end points are marked on the maps; the picnic area is on the flat grassed area about 100m past the entrance.
Coffee: A picnic is proposed, but if the weather is not suitable walkers can choose one of the three cafés in Paekakariki Township or stop off on your journey home.
Happy walking.
Russell Paterson
Walk Schedules: You can look at the walk schedule for October 2025 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.
Please click HERE for details
Calendar of Events
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 will highlight them through a profile in the newsletter.
This week we have chosen Village Pharmacy as our featured sponsor:
“Situated in the heart of each suburb, Village Pharmacy is your friendly, professional, local pharmacy. Encompassing good health and wellbeing, we are renowned for our expertise, range of goods in store and the quality of service. We at Village Pharmacy pride ourselves in knowing our customers by name and we strive to go the ‘extra mile’ when it comes to meeting your needs.
Based in the northern suburbs of Wellington, we are situated in three locations; Khandallah, Ngaio and Churton Park. As a dedicated team of professionals, we consider ourselves an integral part of the community and have a close relationship with our local medical centres and healthcare professionals.
We hope when you visit, your experience will surpass your expectations as we endeavour to go above and beyond for our customers.”
Locations & Contacts:
Churton Park: 103e Westchester Drive, Churton Park, Wellington
Email: info@churtonparkpharmacy.co.nz
Phone: 04 477 3131
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 9am – 6pm
Saturday: 9.30am to 1pm
Khandallah: 23 Ganges Road, Khandallah, Wellington
Email: info@khandallahpharmacy.co.nz
Phone: 04 479 5423
Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 9am – 6pm
Saturday: 9.30am – 1pm
Ngaio: 57 Ottawa Road, Ngaio, Wellington
Email: ngaiopharmacy@gmail.com
Phone: 04 479 6534
Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 9am – 6pm
Saturday: 9.30am – 12.30pm
CPCW Photos
Wednesday Walkers
Wednesday’s walks, book-ended as they were by two stormy days, went ahead, as scheduled, in Crofton Downs. Some of this week’s photos come from new walkers/photographers. We encourage you all to submit photos, including any of the scenery that might have captured your interest and might be suitable for our “Picture of the Week”. Forget Ed’s teenage sister’s edict “Once you’ve seen one scenery you’ve seen them all” – issued on a family holiday. It is not true – ignore her as your editor did at the time! Please send all photos to info@cpcw.co.nz
PPs: Unfortunately, this week brought forth no photos from the PPs.
SSs: Many thanks to Cherie Arlidge for her three photos of the SSs taken at various points in their walk and to Stephen Venn for the final photo in the series. Rowena Rowe comments that it shows the group determinedly seeking their coffee!
FFs: Photos of the two groups of FFs are courtesy of Wayne Jackson and Hue Ng.
Thursday Walkers
Never beaten by the weather, Thursday’s walkers headed out in Churton Park in the aftermath of the day’s storm. Thanks to Diana Young for the photos.
Friday Walkers
Gary Dick plotted the route for the two groups of Friday walkers who headed bush in the hills above Eastbourne.
The first two photos were taken by Wendy Bentley inside “Stan’s Hut” (see above for Picture of the Week and more info). The photo of Stu Lavin was taken before the cyanide had started to take effect. An interesting juxtaposition of Stu and Stevie Wonder! In the third photo Wendy has captured the early group outside the hut. Kudos to this group who all ventured off the track to investigate the hut – many of the later group stayed on the track to conserve their energy!
The later group were photographed by Clint Davis and Bill Gaudie. Clint commented that it looks like the group were queuing for a bus – probably hoping to escape the 600m ascent! The final two images were taken by Bill.
