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For the 14th year, the enthusiastic volunteers at Warkworth Walks are gearing up to host a packed weekend of trail walks across the Mahurangi region in the spring, with tickets going on sale soon.
The group is offering a selection of 11 guided walks over the weekend of November 10 to12, ranging in difficulty from easy to challenging, and in duration from six to eight hours.
On offer are coastal trails, native bush, wildlife and bird life, spectacular views, and more. Among areas featured are Omaha, Leigh, Pakiri, Matakana, Whangaripo, the Tāwharanui Peninsula and Kaipara Harbour.
One of the options includes wine-tasting in the Matakana region and another combines walking with kayaking down the Puhoi River to Mahurangi Regional Park.
The annual walking weekends began in 2009 and has been held every year since with the exception of covid-hit 2021.
Warkworth Walks committee member Luke Williamson says tickets can get snapped up quickly, with some walks sold out within 30 minutes to an hour. There are around 350 tickets available, and Warkworth Walks has 1500 people on its database, “so we usually don’t have too much trouble filling up the walks”.
The more in-demand walks are those that combine the walking with some type of hospitality, as well as those that cross private land whose owners have given permission for access.
“If you can go somewhere where you’re normally not allowed to go to, that’s really popular.”
Luke says the walks attract a lot of repeat customers. All ages take part, although 55 to 65 tends to be the average. If people want to bring children, “we generally say, if they’re good walkers and you know they can do the distance, then that’s fine”.
Most of the walks fall within the $40 to $67 price range, and all include bus transport from Warkworth and lunch. The options involving wine tasting or kayak hire are priced at $116 and $112 respectively, and also both include bus transport and lunch.
Numbers are limited, depending on the trail, to between 20 and 36. Tickets go on sale at midday on Sunday, September 3, at: http://www.warkworthwalks.co.nz/home
