After months of cancellations and postponements it’s good to see some regular major Waiheke events being put back on the calendar.

This week it’s the turn of the Waiheke Walking Festival, which is planning a longer, expanded, 18-day schedule starting on 11 November.

The walking festival has grown immeasurably over the past 10 years and the 11th event – once again supported by Ray White Waiheke and sponsored by Treescape and Make Tracks with funding from the organisation’s patrons – is doubling the usual time frame. 

 “This longer format allows us to have smaller numbers of walks each day, smaller numbers of walkers on individual walks, and repeat walks so that we don’t restrict overall access to the walks,” festival manager Vicki Angland says.

“The new format is aimed at attracting a steady stream of happy walkers to the island over a longer time frame, giving walkers a more intimate experience of the island and enabling groups of walkers to comfortably socialise, and support local businesses.  

Obviously, the go-ahead for numbers and events will depend on which Covid-19 alert level the country and Waiheke is at come the start of spring, but current planning for the festival is based around a maximum of between 30 and 50 walkers per walk with the intention to repeat walks over the 18 days to allow as many people as possible to enjoy them.

Full story in this week’s Gulf News… Out Now!!!

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