Explore Beautiful Waiheke Island On Foot

Are you keen to get out and explore the beautiful spring weather and step up your exercise while your at it?

Then check out the Waiheke Walking Festival which runs from October 30^th to November 7^th 2010.

Waiheke Island is just a 35-40 minute ferry ride from Auckland, New Zealand (ferry timetable and prices are available here).

It’s a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and the walking festival give you a chance to explore the island the best way possible – on foot!

Waiheke Island has beautiful sandy beaches, and plenty of native bush to explore.

The festival features twenty walks over nine days and there is something for all fitness levels. The walks range from family (and stroller) friendly to two-day bush tramps for the keener trampers.

The stroller-friendly walk for mums, dads and toddlers is around a mown track in the Te Toki Reserve, and takes 1 hour.

Some other walks include:

“Get Lost in Onetangi” Onetangi has more than just a great beach.Discover hidden reserves as you tramp from the beach to Trig Hill and back. This walk is one for hill-climbers and lovers of bush, beaches and big views. Duration: 2 hours

“History of the Southern Bays” The sheltered tidal bays of the southern side of Waiheke are home to shorebirds, boaties, baches and some stunning pa sites. Discover a different side to the Waiheke coast. Duration: 2.5 hours

“Snap and Stride, photography walk” Explore Ostend through your camera lens. Local photographer and walking guide (Janine from digiadventure) will show you some of her favourite spots to photograph the estuary and shorebirds along the shoreline of Anzac Bay and the Causeway. Duration: 1.5 hours

“Twilight Bird Spotting” Whakanewha Regional Park is home to several rare and endangered native birds. Pest control has helped make this regenerating bush a haven. Let the park ranger show you the best of the birdlife as dusk falls. Duration: 1.5 hours

There are many other walks available and you can check out all the details at the Auckland city website.

For guided walks you have to pre register first. You can either phone the Waiheke i-Site visitor centre on 09 372 1234 or email waiheke@aucklandnz.com to register.

You don’t have to take guided walks, as self-guided notes are also available for the tours and you can download them here.

So get your walking shoes on and start exploring beautiful Waiheke!