Easter Weekend Walks

Thanks to our Timaru District Council those of us left in town over the Easter Break have a great choice of walks to wander along and enjoy with our early autumn weather.  According to Council research local residents and visitors have  a strong interest in walking and biking and as we know, the benefits to our health and well-being are immeasurable, possibly the perfect antidote to potential overindulgence in the chocolate department this weekend.

It’s a real ‘thumbs up’ for the council that over the last few years they have opened up some fabulous shared walkways for both walking and biking throughout the towns of Timaru, Temuka, Geraldine and Pleasant Point along with a few in rural areas.  Check out the TDC website, under Community for details and maps of the tracks,  it’s a really comprehensive site and you are bound to find something to suit your time frames.  They’ve proven very popular additions to our region, they are suitable for any levels of fitness, bike and pedestrian safe, perfect for family meanderings and are dog friendly.

Some of the ones in Timaru that are well worth doing if you haven’t already are the Otipua Creek walkways.  You can start at Centennial Park, near the BMX area and walk along several sections of the track to end up standing on South Beach and gazing out over the vast Pacific Ocean.  Along the way you can appreciate the  established native plantings lining the route and a few pleasing rural views as well. You’ll have to cross a couple of roads between sections of the track but that’s a small price to pay and the juxtaposition between the peace of the track and the busier road reminds you how nice it is to escape from the everyday street noises sometimes.  After you cross Coonoor Rd and enter the track look back to admire the picturesque historic bluestone bridge,  it’s beautiful and worth an article of its own….

Enjoy a Happy and relaxing Easter,  from the Timaru Civic Trust.
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Karen Rolleston