Fourteen members of ABTC spent nine days, April 17-26, exploring walks in the Wellington region. We stayed
at Moana Lodge, an excellent backpackers in Plimmerton, 20 minutes north of the city centre. Being Easter,
we remembered our Lord's death and resurrection though participating with three local churches in a Walk
of the Cross along the waterfront by our Lodge on Good Friday and attended St Andrew's Anglican Church,
Plimmerton on Easter Sunday.
Our first walk was an orientation of the city, exploring Parliament
Buildings, Wellington Museum, walking along the waterfront to Oriental Bay and climbing Mt Victoria,
enjoying views over the city. One afternoon we drove to the south coast and did the Red Rocks walk along
the southern coast with high vertical cliffs on one side and coloured rocks along the shoreline. We were
entertained by a lone seal who woke up to wave and pose for us!
A favourite walk for many was
the Skyline Walkway, 13km, 5 hours from Johnsonville to Karori. The track follows the ridgeline of the
hills with stunning rural, city and coastal views. We were fortunate to have good weather on this high,
exposed track. We visited the Battle Hill Forest Farm Park where we hiked to the summit. Information
boards on the way detailed one of the last battles on this site between Ngati Toa and the Crown.
We made visits to two islands, Kapiti Island and Somes Island. Kapiti is a 20 minute boat ride from Paraparaumu
Beach. A guide spoke about how Kapiti became predator free and showed pictures of the native birds on
the island. Some climbed a steep winding track to a bird feeder while others continued on to the summit.
Somes Island is in the middle of Wellington Harbour and visitors are given 2 hours there to follow tracks
around the island, stopping at many points of interest to learn about the varied history of Somes.
On one wet, windy day we changed our plans and did a very pleasant walk up and around the Onepoto Peninsula,
across from our Lodge. On our last day, Saturday 26 April, 9 people were left. Kim and Sophie completed
the popular Escarpment Track between Paekakariki and Pukerua, four people visited the bird sanctuary
at Zealandia and three visited the Gallipoli Exhibition at Te Papa. We flew or drove home the next day.
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