Urban Walking Festival

12 April 2019

  • News

Discover the hidden beauty and history of your neighbourhood in a free walking tour hosted by some of Auckland’s most enthusiastic city-lovers.

Urban Walking Festival

Discover the hidden beauty and history of your neighbourhood in a free walking tour hosted by some of Auckland’s most enthusiastic city-lovers.

This May we invite you to join us in an Auckland-wide festival of urban walking that centres local people celebrating their place, sharing what makes it special and advocating for what they love about it through walking and conversation.

The festival was inspired by the annual international festival of free, citizen-led walking conversations Jane’s Walks. Jane’s Walks encourage people to share stories about their neighbourhoods, discover unseen aspects of their communities, and use walking as a way to connect with their neighbours.

The festival begins in the first weekend of May with a Jane’s Walks in Grey Lynn and Balmoral. Over the following weeks city-loving guides and local hosts in Avondale, Henderson, Panmure and Takapuna will share the stories, beloved experiences and hidden gems of their local neighbourhood.

JANES WALK GREY LYNN - SATURDAY 4 MAY

Which suburb seems to have more than its fair share of prime ministers, artists, and change makers? Grey Lynn. On this walk we will explore some of the history that has made this colourful suburb what it is today. As we go along we'll talk through why this area is so loved and consider what needs to be celebrated and looked after and what challenges need to be faced.

Saturday 4 May, 10 am - 12:30 pm Rain or Shine. (Severe weather raindate Sunday 5 May)

Meet at the Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road. Wear walking shoes and bring a raincoat.

Walk hosted by Alex Bonham.

Registration: No registration required, please arrive a few minutes ahead of the start time

Access: This walk will be along suburban streets and can be wheel friendly. Please contact the organiser in advance to let them know of your needs.

KIA ORA AVONDALE WALK - SATURDAY 11 MAY

As Auckland’s old town centres, strung along arterial routes such as Great North Road undergo intensification, what must be held onto to stop the displacement that can occur when a neighbourhood changes? Avondale has important places for people of many different cultural backgrounds. Often these places are small and may be invisible to those who do not use them. Meandering through the Avondale Town Centre we will explore some of the spaces and everyday activities that are important to the richness of this neighbourhood.

Saturday 11 May 2:00-4:00pm. (Raindate Sunday 12 May, same time).

Meet outside Avondale Library, 93 Rosebank Road. Wear walking shoes and bring a raincoat. Snacks will be provided en route.

Walk hosted by HOOP-LA

Web: www.hoop-la.nz
Instagram: hoopla_nz

Registration: Because we will be in some small spaces this walk is limited to 20 people.

RSVP via Eventbrite

Access: This walk will go into small places and up stairs.

PANMURE HIKOI

The Hikoi is a free guided walk through Māori history and the continuum of connections to our present.

Led by your warm and entertaining host Prince Davis, the Hikoi traverses Te Tauoma (Panmure), where the pace is set by the group’s enquiries of the places and spaces encountered. Our host will share cultural history and heritage of the site through tribal stories and tradition. The Hikoi are devised and guided by Prince Davis, a direct descendant of the Great Chief Te Kawau, of Tāmaki, Ngāti Whātua, Host Tribe of Auckland City. Free tea, coffee and home made snacks await your arrival at the end of the Hikoi where you can sit, relax, ask questions and unwind after a unique Auckland experience.

Wear walking shoes and bring a raincoat.

Saturday 18 May 10am –1pm

The meeting point will be shared with you after you have registered.

Walk hosted by Prince Davis (Ngāti Whātua)

Registration: This walk is limited to 30 places

RSVP via Eventbrite

Access: This walk travels along city streets and across grass

EVERYTHING RISES - SUNDAY 19 MAY

A collective walk in the rising tide under the rising full moon lead by local Artist Brydee Rood. Everything Rises is a peaceful immersive sea walk in the elements, in formation. The walk is a movement tracing the incoming tide with a glowing line of solar lights carried by participants. A climate emergency vigil in contemplation of the nature around us and the future changing landscapes of low lying coastal areas and the implications of our human footprint.

Sunday May 19 2019

5:15 pm - 6:30 pm

Assemble at 5:15pm at the north end of Takapuna beach opposite the Takapuna Beach Cafe under the large Pohutukawa trees

Everything Rises walk will begin at 5:30pm

The Full Moon rises at 5:46pm

We will walk to the south end of Takapuna Beach and back with our feet in the rising tide, it will take approximately 45mins.

Please Note: We will walk in approximately ankle deep waters, dress suitably in blues and greens. If you don't wish to get your feet wet please wear gumboots.

Walk hosted by Brydee Rood

Registration: No registration required

Access: This walk will take place along the beach and in the water.

WAI O PANUKU HIKOI - SATURDAY 25 MAY

The hikoi is a free guided walk alongside the Opanuku stream drawing on the continuum of connections to Art, Māori history, ecology and our present.

Led by artist Charlotte Graham, the hikoi travels upstream along the waterway. The moderate pace will lead us to various places and spaces and will begin in Charlotte’s studio. The hikoi will draw on oral stories recorded by historian George Samuel Graham, Charlotte Graham's great grandfather and stories shared with her by Te Kawerau a Maki. The walk will conclude at Te Puna, Panuku’s pop up space at the Falls carpark, where a new large scale artwork by Charlotte is soon to be installed.

Wear walking shoes and appropriate clothing for the day.

Saturday 25 May 11.15am prompt– 1:30pm

Corban Estate Arts Centre, meet outside The Project Space by the white raukura (feather) painted on the ground.

Walk hosted by Charlotte Graham (Pare Hauraki, Pare Waikato)

Registration: This walk is limited to 30 places. RSVP via Eventbrite

Access: This walk travels across grass and gravel tracks.

PANMURE FAMILY SCAVENGER HUNT - SATURDAY 25 MAY

Discover the secrets of Panmure with a scavenger hunt devised by Salome Tanuvasa, the Panmure Library staff and local residents. Over April and May Salome and the team at the Panmure library are collecting your favourite places to go and things to do in Panmure. From there they will create a scavenger hunt to show you the Panmure people love.

Bring the whole family to help you solve the clues and explore Panmure.

Saturday 25 May, 2 - 3pm

Meet at the Panmure Library, 7-13 Pilkington Road. Wear walking shoes and bring a raincoat. Snacks will be provided at the end of the walk.

Walk hosted by Salome Tanuvasa and the Panmure Library

Registration: No registration required, please arrive a few minutes ahead of the start time

Access: This walk will be along suburban streets and can be wheel friendly. Please contact the organiser in advance to let them know of your needs.