2013 marks 20 years for Rotorua Walking Festival
3 February 2013
The 20th year of the Rotorua Walking Festival is being marked with this year's walking festival and already organisers are receiving a high level of interest in the event.
The Rotorua Walking Festival is a weekend recreational event with the focus on seven walks between Friday 15 March and Sunday 17 March 2013.
The walks on each day cater for many different walking preferences including walks of marathon, half marathon, and 10 km in the Whakarewarewa Forest on the Saturday and on the Sunday 30, 20 and 10 km distances around parks, reserves, the Lakefront, CBD and stream areas of Rotorua.
Organisers are marking the 20th anniversary with all new walking routes for the Saturday walks, utilising a section of the new cycleway - Thermal By Bike - through the Hemo Gorge where walkers will see carved images on of the legend of Hatupatu and Kurungaituku, and close to Whakarewarewa Thermal Village where they will be immersed in a geothermal landscape.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Rotorua Walking Festival, a cocktail evening function will be held at the world reknown Pohutu Geyser in association with Te Puia. Festivities will take place on Saturday 16 March from 4.30-6.00pm at a cost is $20 per person and registration is essential by 10 February. This will be a opportunity to look back over highlights of the last 20 years and acknowledge those that have contributed to the festival over this period.
Spot prizes are be given away this year including accommodation and breakfast packages from Holiday Inn Rotorua. There are also two Tongariro Crossing guided Day Walks and one 4-day Lake Waikaremoana Guided Walk to give away.
Entries to the Rotorua Walking Festival can be made online at the official website www.rotoruawalkingfestival.org.nz . Early bird discount are also available for registrations before 10 February.
To keep up to date with the latest news check out the festival's Facebook page www.facebook.com/RotoruaWalkingFestival
To download the Rotorua Walking Festival brochure and entry form click here