This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
You don't remember seeing the Northern Walkway on the list? No, it’s not surprising. It wasn't there. We had 13 signed up for the Blue Range, including four drivers. Just comfortable. Then two drivers pulled out, leaving 11 people in two cars, which wouldn't have been at all comfortable. The last-minute decision was to do a tramp that didn't need private transport and this one fitted the bill very nicely. We formed an International Team - two each from Holland, New Zealand and England, a German and an American. Most were on their first tramp and accentuated the cosmopolitan atmosphere that is Wellington and particularly WT&MC. We all had lots of discussions based on “What bought you here?" A walk among the early shoppers on Lambton Quay took us to the Cable Car station where we were surprised to get a group discount and delighted at the easy, quick height gain. (Maybe more hills should have cable cars and lookouts?) This gave us the opportunities both to admire one of the best views in Wellington and to avoid the Grand Old Duke of York syndrome - march them up to the top of the hill and march them down again. The Botanic Gardens were as appealing as ever, especially in the morning sun, and we made a brief pilgrimage to the Peace Flame before crossing into the Town Belt, a forest of stately trees and another of Wellington's superb free access areas. Beyond Wadestown, Trelissic Park provided contrasting walking in quite damp bush, beside a meandering stream. Through Ngaio and Kandallah to the major uphill leading to the lookout atop Mount Kaukau still in sun but also in quite a strong, gusty wind. Johnsonville Park had lots of well-benched track across steep hillsides and took us down to the ice cream shop, cunningly placed just before the station. A cheap-rate train ride, just $1-50, completed the round. A smashing walk and so enjoyable to have distance views for much of the day. Paul Exley