Today we went on an organised adventure! We went orienteering. While it wasn’t free, it was well priced for a family adventure - $5 per adult, $3 per child and a maximum of $10 for a family. Today’s orienteering course headed out from Peren Park, up Summerhill. There were four options ranging from 1km to 5km. As it was just me and my little pal today, we did a middle sized 2.2km course. I took the carrier for when little legs got tired or keeping on track was needed. It was long enough for me to get into it too (I would have enjoyed this or a longer version doing it for time too). We received a paper map and a trendy finger ring to track our progress at each ‘gate’ and the course leaders made sure we were heading off the right way and hinted at where we would end up coming back into the finish. They were really friendly and super helpful. There were plenty of families and complete beginners, and everyone was treated kindly and with the same enthusiasm. We headed off (at toddler pace) into the tracks of Summerhill. It took us an hour of wandering between the eleven marks and back to ‘home’ at Peren Park. The route was very lovely and, as always, is right on our back door step. Upon return we spent some time exploring the rest of Peren Park - swings, obstacle course, basketball half court (with adjustable hoop) and a hut with a trapdoor!
A very pleasant way to spend a little time on a Sunday. Red Kiwi Orienteering ran this event and have others planned during the year. Membership quickly becomes the best option after you go to a couple of events and realise it is a good way to get outdoors with more purpose than just a wander along the river (not that there is anything wrong with this - we do it often). There is a permanent course at the Esplanade if you want to try it out. The map is available HERE
0 Comments
It's always nice to introduce a friend to one of my favourite places, and have a walk and a chatter.
Today we headed to Bledisloe Park and more specifically, the Arboretum. We stuck to the pram friendly parts as toddler decided he wanted to have a ride rather than walk or be carried. We crossed the first and second bridges, headed through the Bledisloe Park loop track, past the second stairs and over the third bridge. After the third bridge, we turned left (second left) to carry on walking in the bush (not out to the ring road) and over bridge number four. Instead of following the Te Araroa Trail track up the hill (see our other adventure up there), we carried on through the bush track. Today the cicada voice was strong. It's a great place for cicada spotting and then shell collecting later in the season. The bush track soon opens into a clearing and you can wander along a well worn track that sticks pretty close to the stream. In summer the ground is really dry but it winter it gets a bit boggy and less pram friendly. There are a few roots to contend with but nothing too bumpy. There are many holey trees to explore, and rocks and mini hills to clamber over. In fact, over the mini hill (stopbank for the Turitea stream) in one of my favourite spots in all of Palmy - the Arboretum. The Arboretum is full of exotic species of plants and trees, developed by a former Massey groundsman, Dave Bull. Read more about this lovely project here. Today we walked along the stream all the way to the gated bridge. If you don't have a pram, heading over the bridge and to the right up the hill leads you up to the back of Massey University by the playing fields. Another nice wander but today, we didn't cross the bridge and instead followed the stream to the left till we reached the Massey No Entry sign. At this point, we hooked a left over the stopbank and into the Arboretum. The arboretum is a great place for a shady picnic, a romantic wander, and a fascinating look at non traditional garden plantings. Sometimes it is a little overgrown but to me that's part of its charm. It's described as a secret garden and I wholeheartedly agree with this. This time, we had two sleeping babes so we didn't stop or explore too deeply (for fear of waking them!). By the time we'd wandered back through the bush, over the bridges and the loop track, both were awake from their mini naps. We stopped for a bit under a big shady tree on the Massey grounds and played with sticks and spiky chesnuts (maybe, not quite sure what they were!) and toddler did some running up and down a nearby hill. Whether you're into a slow wander, splashing in streams, exploring holey trees, admiring beautiful bushes or listening to the cicada cacophony - the Arboretum and wider Bledisloe Park has everything you need for an adventure. There is nothing quite like rounding the corner and spotting the hut. Even a hit that's only a short wander from the road. This weekend we took a day trip out to the Apiti and beyond to take toddler to his first hut. We picked Alice Nash Memorial hut as I knew we would all would manage to walk there and back. Truly, it's a wander. The hardest part is getting there. It takes an hour or so from town. The walk itself is (at non toddler pace) half an hour. However, it's worth it. Our first amazing view was of all four mountains - Ruapehu, Ngaurahoe, Tongariro (well, we know he was there hiding behind Ngaurahoe), and Taranaki. After much admiring, we set off down into the valley. At toddler pace, the walk took us about an hour or dawdling, stopping to "schump" over rocks, pretending to fall off the side of the track into the bushes, pointing out manu, smelling bushes and taking the obligatory photo at the bridge. Further along the way (before the hut) there is a Kiwi Guardians medal post if that sort of thing will entice your children to follow you into the wild! The hut itself is a goodie. Non bookable so first in first bedded. We didn't stay over (that's a whole other adventure!) but ate our lunch out on the deck, checked out the intentions book, explored the site (longdrops are always an adventure). This particular hut isn't a DOC hut but built and maintained by the deerstalkers. Remember to leave but in better condition than you found it and always pay (for overnights). We chatted to some through trampers heading in to Iron Gate and some trig descenders who'd found the tops very misty.
If you need more, but not quite Iron Gates, there is always the descent to the Oroua River for some whio spotting. Today we didn't make the trek down. It's about half hour down plus explore time and then back up. Recommended if you are staying over or if you aren't travelling on toddler time. Our return walk was much quicker with toddler on my back. Much closer to the 30 minutes on the sign. On the way home there are some glomworms to see at the Limestone Creek Reserve (I don't think I've been before so we'll have to go on another adventure!) Alice Nash is a good little taster of a Ruahine hut. It's close to the road but far enough away to get the isolated nature feeling. Recommend! |
AuthorI'm Kate. I have 3 children - 2 bios and a steppie, 1 under 5 and 2 tweenagers. I am determined to spend more time outside this year and share more of Palmy's wonderful places and free play activities. Categories
All
Archives |