Whanganui Walking Group
(River City Walking Group)

Welcome to the Whanganui Walking Group!

(Formerly River City Walking/Tramping Group)

We are a community group based in the River City of Whanganui, New Zealand. We run a diverse range of walks and tramping trips around Whanganui and further afield. From easy short walks to full-day strenuous hikes, we have something to cater to most people's fitness and abilities.

• Open to Everyone: Our walks and tramping trips welcome all newcomers.

• No Annual Membership Fee: We keep our club accessible to all.

• Get on the Email List: To receive our full programme every 2 months alongside regular updates, email us at: whanganui.walking@gmail.com
  See Group info tab above for more info on what email lists are avaible 

📅 Our Walking Schedule: We alternate between local or semi-local walks and out-of-town trips throughout the year. During daylight saving time, we also run popular Sunday twilight walks. When these twilight walks are active, our weekends get very busy! We aim to pack in two twilight walks and two out-of-town trips per month, meaning we will sometimes skip a standard afternoon local walk during those peak weeks to balance the schedule.

🔗 Quick Links & Safety:

• Online Health & Safety Form: Click here to register (Required for out-of-town trips, not local walks).

• Facebook: Click here to check out our new Group page on Facebook.
  

News & Notices

• Difficulty grading Update: Our difficulty grading has had a slight fine-tuning! We have removed the Strenuous rating and introduced a new Moderate / Hard rating.This change was made because many of our bigger tramps were previously grouped under "Moderate." Now, the more challenging moderate walks will fall under Moderate / Hard.
  Example: Holdsworth – Gentle Annie River Ridge Loop (previously graded as Moderate) is now rated Moderate / Hard.
  
  
• Group Safety Fund Update: To help us look after the group, we are chipping away at paying off our club PLB (Personal Locator Beacon), saving up for its future battery replacement, and funding our new Uniden safety walkie-talkies!
  If riding in the transport pool: Your flat fee covers your share of the fuel, van maintenance, and a built-in safety contribution.
  If you are self-driving: We warmly invite a voluntary $5 safety donation per person toward the club's gear box (PLB, radios, first-aid restocking, and navigation apps).
  Thank you so much for helping keep our Whanganui crew safe out in the bush!
  

• Facebook Group - Members Hub: We have a Facebook group page. This is used for walk announcements and sharing photos. Follow this link to join. This replaces the old group chat
  

• Helpers Wanted: We are always on the lookout for more helpers to help the walking group run more smoothly. Some of the roles you can help out in are coordinating a walk or tramp, leading or being the tail end charlie on track, and helping out with transport with our out-of-town events. If you're interested, talk to one of our leaders or come along to the planning meeting.
  

📅 Next Upcoming Walks

Quick snapshot of our next trips! For full details and track descriptions, click the Walk & Tramp Programme tab above.

Semi-Local Walk: Bason Botanic Gardens Spring Walk Easy (Shorter & Longer Options)
Date: Sunday 6th September 2026
Time: 2:00 PM
Meeting Location: Lower Car Park near the toilets (bottom of the hill), Bason Botanic Gardens

Taupō Hike: Waikato River & Huka Falls Moderate
Date: Saturday 12th September 2026
Time: 6:30 AM
Meeting Location: Car park for Church on Ingestre (Cnr Ingestre & Campbell Streets)
(please book)

Summer Walks Planning Meeting
When: Sunday 13th September at 2:00 PM
Where: St Johns Club (158 Glasgow Street)

Semi-Local Walk: South Beach Dunes & Coast Easy to Easy/Moderate (Shorter & Longer Options)
Date: Saturday 19th September 2026
Time: 2:00 PM
Meeting Location: South Beach Car Park (at the end of the gravel road past the airport)