Walkways & Walking

Walking is one of the best activities for your body (and mind)!

• Set the alarm early and walk while the streets are quiet. You'll start the day with a spring in your step! Start with one block, then two, then three and so on.
• Challenge yourself and get your heart rate up. (You should still be able to keep up a conversation).
• Get active and walk with the kids. You could also start or lead a walking school bus
• Find a neighbour, workmate, or friend that you can walk with on a regular basis. It's twice as enjoyable and you'll get double the motivation.
• Forget sending an email or making a call to a workmate and use your feet. Remember, every little bit will build you up for the 30 minute goal.
• Jump off the bus two stops early and walk - you could cover up to 400 metres twice a day, that's four kilometres in a working week
• Walk the dogs, they need at least 30 minutes walking every single day, so get out there - your body and your hound will love you for it. If you haven't got a dog, why not walk a stray for the SPCA?

 

Tips on walking

• Keep your head high, shoulders relaxed and stomach in.
  
• Bend your arms at the elbow and let them swing as you walk, driving you along.
  
• Walk from the hip, not the thigh or knee.
  
• If you are trying to walk faster, don't take longer steps. Focus instead on taking shorter quicker steps.
  
• Gradually increase the speed or distance of your walks and set goals that are realistic for you.
  
• Congratulate yourself when you reach each milestone.
  
• Use a pedometer to help you keep track of how far you have walked.

 

Keeping motivated

Once you have reached a good level of fitness, stay with it with these motivational ideas:

• Walk with a friend.
  
• Join a walking group.
  
• Build variety into your walking routine by trying new places to walk.
  
• Have a look out for walking events in your area. 5 and 10 kilometre walks are great for goal setting.
  
• Try to build walking into your daily routine. For example walk your children to school and/or go for a walk with your family or friends after dinner.
  
• Keep a record either on a calendar or diary of routes and times that you have done.

 

Walking Groups & Locations in Hutt City

View a list of walking groups and their locations. (PDF 26kb)

Greater Wellington Journey Planner

An innovative on-line cycling and walking journey planner is now available for Wellingtonians. 

As well as the expected information about how to get to places by cycle or on foot and how long the journeys will take, the planner has a range of other features - how hilly your trip will be, how many calories you are likely to burn, what parts of the route have street lights, where you will find drinking fountains along the way, toilet stops, and where there are seats for you to rest.  Click on the link below to check it out!

http://www.journeyplanner.org.nz/

 

SPARC Push Play 30 Day Walking Programme

Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) have developed a month long walking programme. Download the 30 day walking programme (PDF 66kb),

 

Tracks & Trails in Hutt City

The Parks and Gardens Division of Hutt City Council produces a Tracks and Trails brochure outlining walking tracks and routes throughout the city.

Click on the links below to download the brochure.  

Track Descriptions (PDF 277kb)

Location Map (PDF 296kb)

Contact information for additional information or suggestions about tracks (PDF 65kb)

 

Regional Parks & DOC

Greater Wellington Regional Council operates two regional parks within Hutt City Council boundaries - Belmont Regional Park and East Harbour Regional Park. Visit www.gw.govt.nz for more information.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) operates the Rimutaka Forest Park in Wainuiomata.  For more information visit DOC

 

Further information

 

For additional information on walking visit the following websites:

 

Wonderwalkers - a walking resource targeted at women.

 

ActiveSmart - online walking plans 

 

Sport Wellinton Buggy Walks - walks for caregivers and children under 5.