Fitness trail open to public

An official opening of the Waipa Fitness Trail will be held at the Rotorua mountain bike carpark at Waipa on Tuesday.

A new outdoor fitness trail at the Waipa entrance to Whakarewarewa Forest will be opened up to the public next week.

A Rotorua Lakes Council and Red Stag Timber partnership provided materials for the exercise stations and instruction signs, while Waiariki Institute of Technology Academy of Sport was involved in developing and installing the stations and creating basic exercise instructions.

Waiariki sport and exercise studies students will demonstrate the trail's exercises at next week's opening and will use the new facilities throughout the course of their studies.

The council's Sports and Recreation Portfolio leader, councillor Charles Sturt, said there was a need for a fitness trail within the community, especially for those new to exercise.
"It had been noticed that runners and walkers often just used what was at hand for stretching and exercising, instead of more appropriate equipment or instructions.

"The Redwoods environment was identified as an ideal location for a fitness trail, as people can start with short walks on flat terrain and then extend to longer walks or runs on varied terrain as their fitness levels improve. Resistance training could then be incorporated into their regimes if the right equipment was available."

He said the new trail was also handy to the Waipa restroom complex, which includes showers and changing rooms, as well as toilets.

Red Stag commercial manager Paul Laing said working in partnership with the council and Waiariki was a great opportunity to collaborate on a community project that encouraged health and wellness.

"A fitness trail had been on Red Stag's radar following feedback from staff who participated in a wellness survey, so when we became aware that the council was also working on a similar project, we were keen to jump on board and give our support. We're really pleased with the result," Mr Laing said.

Waiariki Health & Sports department head, Amanda Heapy, said the Waipa Fitness Trail had been an exciting and valuable learning tool for students.

"We plan to deliver a number of events and programmes at the fitness trail as part of the course's practical component," she said.

Following feedback from users it is hoped to replicate the fitness trail at other forest sites, with Long Mile Road being identified as a potential location.

The official opening of the Waipa Fitness Trail is at 10am on Tuesday at the Rotorua mountain bike carpark at Waipa.