Sandy Bay

Meeting point: end of Sandy Beach Rd, off Governors Bay Rd. There is space to park at the end.

Click here for pin drop

General info available here - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details.

Little Hitch Hikers Group - Start at Sandy Bay, climb the stairs up to Governors Bay and walk down Jetty Rd for about 100m and continue on the Governors Bay Foreshore Track (click for details) toward Allandale Reserve for another km or so. Check in with each other after half an hour of walking and return back to Sandy Bay along the same track when ready - make sure nobody is left to turn around on their own. If you do Sandy Bay to Governors Bay Jetty, then another 1km along the Foreshore track, then return, that will give you a 4km return walk.

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced stroll from Sandy Bay towards Governors Bay - if the group is moving along quickly you could continue to the Governors Bay jetty, wander along it, and back (1km each way). You can shorten it by stopping at the Willow tree with tyre and rope swing attached then heading back. Take your time and enjoy investigating the shoreline! Note: if the tide is low enough you can walk along the muddy beach then return along the track.

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - spend time exploring Sandy Beach! Ideas include: look for sea glass, different shells, throw stones into the water and mud, find crabs under the rocks, explore around the rocks, caves at the end of the beach (but don’t go far on the incoming tide as it will trap you with no way back!), spot bird life, see what is in the rock pools down the end, dig holes and make tunnels and bridges, make sand castles and drip castles, draw art in the sand or make art with shells, see if you can find bugs in rotting logs near the porta-loo, find sea snails

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments): water - close attentive supervision required, incoming tide, dead/rotten tree branches in case of tree climbing - check first and encourage to only climb where branch is thicker than wrist, potential poor water quality not recommended for swimming, uneven surfaces, minor drops from tracks and bridges/boardwalks, slippery surfaces after rain, sharp glass and shells, wildlife, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki, vehicles on road, dogs, other humans.

Travis Wetland

Meeting point: Car Park at the end of Beach Rd, Burwood - driveway off Frosts Road

Click here for pin drop

General info available here - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details.

Little Hitch Hikers Group - You complete the 3.4km loop track in either direction - go ahead and choose a direction and complete the full loop together.

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced stroll in clockwise direction from the car park and stop in at the following points - information kiosk, which has buttons you can push for information and flaps to lift plus look out at the birds - bird hide and try spot some birds that are noted on the information panels - and the eels! there is a spot a little further around the corner past the turn-off to the bird hide with a seat where you will usually see eels and get a closer look at some swans and other birds etc. You could turn back from here or wander a little further around to the predator gate and turn back. Just feel the vibe and check in with the group.

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - set up picnic blankets on a grassy patch near the car park. From here kids can enjoy exploring the black tunnels and jump into the bouncy bushes that you will see beside the toilets, check out the information kiosk, and wander a little way down to the first bridge (clockwise direction) bridge to see if you can spot any fish or birds. Look out for insects along the way. Between the information kiosk and bridge to the right there is a spot with some tree stumps to try climbing and balancing on. Feel free to wander a little further along the track too, or there are some other little tracks over towards the big picnic table.

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments):

Water - close attentive supervision required, wildlife especially birds, bees, eels, uneven surfaces, other humans, vehicles in carpark, minor drops from bridges/boardwalks, dogs, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki

Ashley Gorge

Meeting point: Ashley Gorge Recreation Reserve - drive in past the camp office and follow the road down to the reserve. Meet near the toilet block and playground.

Click Here for Pin Drop

General info available here for Ashley Gorge Loop Track, and Here for the Giant’s Walk - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details. You can also have a look at this simple map - the Nature Walk area refers to the area of the Giant’s Walk. Note the campground staff are super friendly and helpful if you need help finding anything. vehicls

Little Hitch Hikers Group - Complete the Ashley Gorge Loop Track and if you want more walking time, head back down past where you parked your cars and follow the road around a bit further to complete the Giant’s Walk too. Watch kids on road bridge that you will need to cross to get to the Ashley Gorge Loop Track as the safety bars are actually pretty wide apart, so keep a hold of the little ones!

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced stroll around the Giant’s walk, up to the lookout and back down again - find all of the fairy houses and spot some birds!

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - Hang out around the reserve area, splash in the river, dig in the sand/stones, throw some rocks (make sure you’re standing in front of friends if you do!), and enjoy the peaceful beauty of the surroundings! Find bugs in rotting logs, climb trees and logs, stack rocks, ecplore little pathways along the river banks etc etc

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments): water/river - keep to the slow moving shallows and very close supervision, uneven surfaces/rocks, falls from trees/logs etc, other humans, dogs, wildlife and insects, vehicles on road and car park, large drop from foot bridge along the road to get to Ashley Gorge Loop Track (there are safety rails but they seem very wide apart so keep a hold of little ones), navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki

Halswell Quarry

Meeting point: Hiking groups - meet at the main car park - drive in off Kennedy’s Bush Road, continue past the cafe caravan to get to car park with toilets. For the Nature Play group, you will probably find it easier to continue a little further to the Findlays Picnic Area car park so don’t have to walk along with all your stuff.

Click Here for Pin Drop for main car park, Click here for the Findlays Picnic Area car park

General info available here for Quarry Rim Track and here for Kennedy’s Bush Track (Babies in packs group only) - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details. Here is the location for Findlays Picnic Area

Little Hitch Hikers Group - From the main car park complete the Quarry Rim Track in the anticlockwise direction - on your way back down, you will see a small gate you can walk through to extend the walk on the Kennedy’s Bush Track - head through and walk as far along this track as you like, then return back down to the car park - check in with each other after a km or so on this extension and make sure nobody is left to turn around on their own.

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced walk around the Quarry Rim track - I would suggest heading in the anti-clockwise direction as you will then end up at Findlay’s Picnic Area where the nature play group will be hanging out.

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - Set up your picnic blankets in the green space and explore! There are Japanese gardens, Songpa garden, a huge log with steps carved in to climb and explore, and the kids will find lots more I am sure!

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments): steep drop into the quarry from trails (fenced - don’t climb), uneven surfaces - rocks, roots etc, other humans, dogs, vehicles on drive and car parks, wildlife - birds and bugs, bees, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki.

Southshore Spit Reserve

Meeting point: end of Rockinghorse Rd, on street parking.

Click Here for Pin Drop

General info available for Southshore Spit Track here - please click and have a read and familiarise yourself with the track details.

Little Hitch Hikers Group - Complete the loop in a clockwise direction, and when you get to the viewing seat on the estuary (near the little board walk) you can continue following a track along the estuary to make a longer walk instead of returning straight back to the cars from there - check in with each other after a km or so on this extension and make sure nobody is left to turn around on their own, then turn around to head back toward the cars.

Little Budding Hikers Group - take a child paced hike around the loop track in a clockwise direction. Stop at the viewing seat on the estuary for a play before returning to cars.

Little Naturalists: Nature Play Group - you’ll need to take a little walk to get to your spot on this one - instead of heading on the loop track you can cut straight across to the estuary on a diagonal track - this would be pram friendly enough, or beach trolleys, to get anything you need to the spot. When you see a viewing seat and board walk by the estuary, this is the spot you can set up for a play. Get messy in the mud, wade in the shallows, find crabs, collect shells, find interesting driftwood, find bugs, and just generally explore around the spot.

Possible Hazards & Risks in the area (may not cover everything, please do your own risk assessments): water - close attentive supervision required, incoming tide, uneven surfaces, minor drop from boardwalk, slippery surfaces after rain, sharp shells, wildlife - birds, crabs, navigation/getting lost - stay close to and always supervise tamariki, vehicles on road, dogs, other humans.