Visitors encouraged to walk Waiheke

Walk Waiheke -Te Ara Hura

•100km marked route around the island comprising reserves, tracks and roads linked to form a network.
•4 distinct parts of the island - headlands, beaches, forest heart (including Whakanewha Regional Park) and Far End.
•35km from downtown Auckland is the most remote part.
•2km is as far as it gets from public roads.

Visitors attracted to Waiheke Island for beaches, vineyard tours and restaurants are being urged to bring their walking shoes too and sample some of its stunning views and physical challenges on a 100km trail being formally opened November 21.

There are bound to be plenty of takers for Te Ara Hura's network of tracks.

Waiheke Island was this year picked as one of the top 10 destinations in the world to visit by Lonely Planet's Best In Travel 2016 publication - an annual guide to the hottest destinations and experiences as voted by travel writers.

"The walkway is varied and beautiful and the fact that we have access to it is unique and such a privilege," said fitness coach Sarah Gloyer, an island resident of 13 years and formerly of Canada, who will lead a group for a free loop in the first five days of the Waiheke Walking Festival November 14-22.

"Aucklanders can be there in 35 minutes from Downtown and walk right from the ferry on to the first parts of the web of tracks.

"We do a lot of running on the trail too and its fantastic training for Aucklanders wanting a different run or preparing for a 100km walk."

Ms Gloyer said the Waiheke loop offered the advantages of being near roads and transport so could be broken into "snacks or big meals"- legs of 20km in each of five days.

"It's easy to break out in to chunks and do one leg and come back next year for another.

"You can do a cafe to cafe walk as well and that's the thing about the variety of the trail - you feel you are far away but you are never that far away from anything and it makes it safe.

For more information, visit: http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/parksfacilities/walkingtracks/pages/tearahura.aspx

For guided walks, visit: waihekewalkingfestival.org