[Mike G]

Do you have young children? Nieces, nephews and cousins? Got some friends who do?

It’s not really common knowledge that there is a ‘buggy walkers’ group within the club, who go out with children for daywalks and even overnight trips. We have lots of fun and everything is done at a nice, relaxed pace to make sure everyone has a good time.

I’ve set up a new email account – – so that anyone with kids can keep in touch with what the club is doing for them. (That’s one of the things with club members with families – your chances of making club night right when the kids are going to bed is pretty minimal.) So if you want to get the occasional email with lots of ideas and outings to keep your kids entertained, then drop me a line at and I’ll add you to the list.

I’m also going to get the family trips up on the notice boards and on the trip schedules. So keep these trips in mind that if you have relatives with children – you’ll get lots of brownie points if you take them off their hands for a day and wear them out by taking them walking. Don’t be scared because there’ll be lots of mums and dads along to sort out those arcane details that parents have to learn the hard way. And you’ll be building the next generation of trampers, too.

So email me at , and tell your friends & relatives that there are family trips going through the club. And keep an eye out for family trips, and make your brother’s day by telling him you’ll take his horde off his hands for a day of peace and quiet.

[Mike G]

Here are some upcoming WTMC family trips you might want to consider. They’re aimed at members and non-members who have children – either in a buggy or backpack, or mobile and walking.

If you’re interested in any of these trips, just email , or get in contact with me (Mike Gilbert) at club.

Otari Wiltons Bush buggy walk – April 25
Beth Piggott has kindly agreed to lead this gentle day-walk aimed at buggy walkers. The plan is to meet at the lower carpark (off Churchill Drive/Blackbridge Road) around 10am.

Coffee at my place – April 25
Let’s get together and chat about just how tricky it is to juggle kids and walking, over a tea or coffee and some cake. Say, 2pm-ish at my place? Email me at and tell me if you take milk or sugar.

Paua Hut – May 8-9
A perenial favourite. An overnight trip, but a great one to test the waters with your kids. Daniel can vouch that you can get a buggy all the way in, and Gustav can attest to it being quite walkable even if you are 2. Mark it in your diaries and let me know if you’re interested.

Other day walks

I’m going to put some day walks on the official trip schedule for over winter. Last winter, we got all the nasty, horrible weather to last us for the next 5 years, so I’m sure that this winter will be clear and fine and ideal for some buggy walks. I’m looking for volunteers to help organise these day walks though, so please let me know if you are available for any of these dates:

26 or 27 Jun – Botanic Gardens
24 or 25 Jul – Butterfly Creek, Eastbourne
14 or 15 Aug – Matiu Island (Somes Island)

Nelson Lakes – August 27-29
Now, this one is something special. Because we ferry our vans with them so often, Interislander have come through with some incredible discount vouchers, and the WTMC committee has fired them at me for a family trip!! So we’re looking at a trip to St Arnaud or some other Nelson Lakes destination for around $65 per adult club member, less for children, all up.

If you’ve never been to St Arnaud before, it’s one of my very favourite places in NZ. There’s heaps to do at all levels from there, like day-walks up the lake, mountain biking around and about, or just skimming stones at the jetty. We’d camp by the lake or even rent a bach as a base, and do daywalks from there. If there’s interest, we’d make a long weekend of it.

So mark these dates in your diaries, and come along!

[Author]

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