2024 Te Ara Hura

• Meet our trusted volunteers and get acquainted

Love what we do?

• 💚Become a Friend💚

In the Spotlight:

• Gary Wilton – our much loved Major Sponsor, Ambassador and owner of Make Tracks 🚶‍♀️

Volunteering is fun!

• Ever thought of Volunteering for our Festival next year?
• Key Dates

🌟A Matariki morning – We’d love you to join us..full details here🌟!

👍Please report any stoat sightings…to our friends at Te Korowai o Waiheke

Te Ara Hura 2024 – update

**All tickets have now sold**.

Our much sought after around-the-island walk sold over 75% of our tickets on the first day of release!

If you’d still love to go, all is not lost.  We do have a waitlist where you can sign up, and we will be in touch should we have any cancellations.

We promised to give you 6 months advance notice for you to purchase tickets and give you much needed certainty, allowing you time to book annual leave, organise flights and sort out your accommodation😍.  This six-months is also a super motivator for people to get fit and ready and the most out of this amazing walk.

Just in case you missed it, our amazing Ambassador Sarah Gloyer has a fabulous get fit and ready guide.  Check out the details below:

https://waihekewalkingfestival.org/getting-festival-fit/

In the heart of Waiheke Island, a group of dedicated individuals are instrumental in making the Festival a fabulous event.

These incredible volunteers have not only contributed their time and energy but have also shown unwavering passion for the island and the unique experiences it offers.

Let us introduce you to some of our amazing volunteers who will make the Te Ara Hura walk complete 💚.

**Mary**: A founding member of the Festival, Mary’s commitment and dedication have been unwavering since the beginning. She is a passionate advocate for sharing her knowledge and walking on the Island making her a true inspiration for many.

**Kate**: A walking and cycling advocate, Kate brings her love for outdoor adventures to the Te Ara Hura walk. Her passion for exploring nature and promoting sustainable transportation shines through in all she does.

**Fiona**: Kind, loyal, and experienced in walking the festival routes, Fiona’s presence adds warmth and positivity to the team. Her previous experience on the Te Ara Hura makes her a valuable asset to the group.

**Mez**: A newcomer to the Festival, Mez’s enthusiasm for meeting new people and immersing herself in all that the island has to offer is truly commendable. Her fresh perspective brings a vibrant energy to the team.

**Sarah**: With a relaxed and easy-going demeanor, Sarah embodies the spirit of Waiheke Island. She effortlessly takes everything in her stride and wholeheartedly embraces the beauty of the island that she proudly calls home.

**Mirjam**: A passionate advocate for the island, Mirjam’s deep connection with Waiheke shines through in her dedication to preserving its natural beauty. Her past experience walking the Te Ara Hura demonstrates her commitment to the cause.

**Anna B**: Known for her kindness, loyalty, and exceptional organizational skills, Anna’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. Her attention to detail and proactive approach make her an invaluable member of the team.

**Another Anna B (you couldn’t make it up 😂😂)**: Bringing a wealth of knowledge about the Festival and the Te Ara Hura walk, this Anna’s expertise and experience are truly appreciated by all. Her dedication to ensuring a seamless experience for participants is truly commendable.

We are incredibly grateful for the hard work, dedication, and passion that our volunteers bring to the Te Ara Hura walk. Their selfless efforts truly made a difference and help create unforgettable memories for all who participate. Join us in celebrating these amazing individuals who continue to make the Festival a success year after year.

Hello to our very own Waiheke Walking Festival amazing Major Sponsor, Ambassador and trail lover Gary Wilton. Over the last five years, Gary has established Make Tracks as the island’s go-to specialists for bush, beach and garden track work.

Make Tracks have just finished work on an upgrade of the Te Aroha Avenue Track (Don’s Track) from Hekerua Bay to Karaka Road – adding a wetland boardwalk and gravelling 400m of track to make this popular public track safe for residents and visitors to use all year-round.

If you’re looking for an AMAZING track specialist, I’m sure Gary would be delighted to help you – from a 50m garden path, to landscape steps, to a 5km bush trail please get in touch at  www.maketracks.co.nz

Lots of volunteers get involved because they want to walk the island and meet new like-minded people, but you don’t have to be a walker – we’re looking for volunteers to help out in the lead up to, and during, the Festival. If you’d prefer to be involved with walker inquiries, safety kit distribution, or general admin, we’re keen to hear from you too!

The role of a volunteer on walks is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our walk participants. The role must be taken seriously but it is also a lot of fun. And you get to experience a walk that you perhaps would not do on your own.  It’s such a privilege as private land is a huge draw card and to be given access through somewhere usually un-accessible is something very special.

We provide information and annual training for all volunteers.  We also run regular volunteer walks, programme update events, and an end-of-year function.

Here are a few pics from our last volunteer walk, plus we got to finish our beautiful coastal stroll at the amazing Allpress Olive Groves for an olive tasting.  After a few additional yummy treats and gifts were purchased all left very happy indeed.

Here is our link to sign up:  💚

https://app.betterimpact.com/Application?OrganizationGuid=2082cd3b-6880-49e9-a689-87c943298569&ApplicationFormNumber=1

Volunteer Photo credits:Allpress Olive Grove, Kate Somerveil and Kate Michell

Ever thought of becoming a Friend of the Festival?  By taking a Friend of the Festival  annual membership, you’ll unlock these great benefits, all for $150:

✅Early access to Festival walk bookings

✅Bookings for up to 10 people (it’s 6 usually)

✅All the good vibes as supporters of the Festival

To sign up, simply:

1.  Visit our website: www.waihekewalkingfestival.org
2.  Navigate to ‘Become a Friend of the Festival’ section (under walks and events)
3.  Complete the registration process and payment.  AVAILABLE from Monday 1st July 2024.

Ngāti Pāoa, Dark Sky Waiheke Island and the Waiheke Walking Festival present:

𝗔 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

We’d love you to join us for a captivating and awe-inspiring cultural and astronomical presentation of Matariki, a significant celestial event for New Zealanders. Learn and witness* the celestial wonder of Matariki and immerse yourself in the beauty of the night sky:

🕰️Friday 28th June

Time: 0520hrs

Location: The carpark at the bottom of Puriri Rd, by Oneroa beach (no need to book this free event).

Arrival:  0600hrs Artworks Theatre Courtyard

Highlights:

 🌟Enjoy the serenity of the early morning hours, when the stars are at their brightest and the ambiance is truly magical.

 🌟Experience a warm welcome by Ngāti Pāoa as they share karakia and kōrero, followed by an enlightening presentation by expert astronomers from Dark Sky Waiheke.

🌟Group waiata following by light refreshments

It may be chilly so please wrap up warm and don’t forget your binoculars.

Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to connect with the cosmos and your community, and appreciate the wonders of the universe.

*Weather permitting. If it is cloudy or raining, come along anyway for the wonderful people and presentation

A stoat caught on Cowes Bay Road in May was the 200th stoat caught since the eradication project began in 2020. This marks a milestone on the journey to make Waiheke stoat-free. Thanks to the phenomenal effort of the team of volunteers, staff, and contractors, not to mention the community.

However, there’s no time for complacency as the ultimate goal is to reach ‘zero’ stoats and become the first urban island in the world to have successfully eradicated stoats.

On Waiheke, community sightings have proven to be the most effective detection method, with many of the sightings last year resulting in a catch.

With low numbers of stoats remaining, the 9,000 pairs of eyes in the community are needed more than ever to catch the last ones.

Please keep your eyes peeled when you’re out and about and report any sightings by calling 0800 BIRDSONG, frank@tekorowaiowaiheke.org.

We are proudly Kauri Dieback free on Waiheke Island, and the Waiheke Walking Festival is committed to keeping it that way.  Always brush and disinfect your shoes on arrival at the Kauri Dieback station at the Matiatia ferry terminal.

All walkers will also do the same at the start and end of each walk.

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