Newsletter - 22nd 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 Sue Fish on Wednesday’s walk around Oriental Bay.
A word from...
Greetings from Auckland
Wayne and I bumped into Brian and Glenys coming off the Devonport Ferry today. This is not the first time we have come across friends while we have been travelling around with our overseas visitors. I think they have a rather distorted impression on the extent of our social network!
I am pleased to report that as far as I am aware there was no serious damage done to Churton Park walkers or their property in last week’s appalling weather. I was also pleased to read reports of all three walks this week and see that the weather cleared and allowed them to proceed. Included in one report was a mention that the women in the Friday walking group are proving to be hardier than the men, something perhaps that was known to most people a long time ago.
The picnic after the walk on Wednesday will be the first opportunity to put pins in a map and mark your progress across the North Island. Remember to bring your current km total.
I look forward to catching up with fellow walkers in the coming week.
David Pegram, Convenor
Walk details for Wednesday February 25th
This Week’s Walks:
This week we head north and away from Wellington’s congestion etc with the destination being Queen Elizabeth II Park in Paekakariki. All three walks are walks we carried out in 2023. These walks will all start from the parking area within QE II Park at 9:20am. Google Maps suggests the trip from Churton Park to QE II Park takes 31 minutes via the coast and 36 minutes via Transmission Gully.
PPs: A 4.13km loop on either formed tracks or sand tracks which do have some minor, but easy, undulations. You can see the walk here.
SSs: A 5.65km loop which is similar to the PP’s walk, but quite a bit further. Same sort of fairly easy undulations. You can see the walk here.
FFs: A 7.19km loop walk that also is similar to the PP and SS walks, but quite a bit further. You can see the walk on Mapometer here and Plotaroute here.
Parking: There is a parking area in the same area as the public toilets within QE II Park. If this parking area gets full then there are quite a few parks alongside the access road etc, but all within an easy and short walk to the starting area. (Access as follows: Turn left into Paekakariki and then right into Wellington Road; continue on the road through the Camp gates and keep going till you come to the parking area near to the toilets.)
Coffee: This is the walker’s choice. A picnic is planned, but obviously is not compulsory. All walkers can take part or can go to one of the cafés in Paekakariki or head to home or to Thyme or Simmer. If you are joining the picnic bring a thermos of tea and coffee and perhaps a bit of cake and a seat or rug and your jacket. Wherever the first group congregate, then that is where the picnic will be. Hopefully this will be a reasonably sheltered spot. And if the weather doesn’t play its part it is not a major issue to call the picnic off.
Don’t forget to bring your distances walked for David to mark your progress towards your walking goal.
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.
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 PACT (Property Advice and Consultation Together) as our featured sponsor:
Barry Ellis is the familiar face of PACT (Property Advice and Consultation Together). With years of experience in real estate in the northern suburbs, Barry can provide you with expert knowledge and advice.
Phone: 027 453 9887
Email: bellisnz@gmail.com
Calendar of Events
| Wednesday 25th February; 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th March | Wednesday Walks |
| Friday 6th March at 5.00pm | Friday Drinks @ Johnsonville Club |
CPCW Photos
Walking for the Week of February 16th 2026:
Wednesday’s walk combined a little adventure – travel on the train – and the chance to wander around Wellington’s waterfront and, for some, up and along parts of Mt Victoria. While numbers were down, feedback from all who attended was very positive. It was great to get out after Monday’s storm.
The Thursday team combined street walks in Woodridge with some off-street walking in Seton Nossiter Park. Apparently, the stream was running high in Seton Nossiter Park and forced a change of route. The Thursday group’s innate sense of playground fun is demonstrated yet again this week.
Gary Dick choreographed the Friday walk this week and led a small, but select, group of walkers into the bush above Karori South and along some of the mountain bike tracks on Makara Peak. As David mentioned earlier, the women outnumbered the men 7:4 with many men down (but, hopefully, not out!). Great fun was had crossing streams and ascending some pretty gnarly bits of track designed to challenge bikers coming down – and walkers heading up! The walk was completed without injury, but with a good sense of achievement!
Please try and remember to take a group photo and send it to info@cpcw.co.nz
Wednesday’s Walk:
Thursday’s Walk:
Friday’s Walk:
