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Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 44 No. 9. May 4 1981

Winter Walks

Winter Walks

With another Wellington winter fast approaching and the prospect of weather beaten weekends ahead in the second term, it is a good idea to brace oneself psychologically at this stage for the dreary days ahead and look at the possibilities of a stormy Sunday afternoon.

There are two basic alternatives that immediately spring to mind when considering the sort of Sunday afternoon that we have all experienced in Wellington; namely either staying inside (warm, dry and sensible) or alternatively going outside (cold and wet).

However if you can think past the contentment of watching crackling mothball romances on TV in a sleeping bag, the idea of putting on a woolly pom pom hat, a thick jersey, a jacket and another pair of socks and going for a vigorous winter walk amongst it all, has its possibilities after all.

Taking the Kelburn area as a starting point you have the Bottie Gardens virtually at the backdoor step and even under a grey sky the flower beds and landscaped walk ways are very pleasant to wander around. Tinakori Road and Thorndon in general provides a maze of delightful early New Zealand type cottages to walk past, and discovering hidden terraces and crescents tucked away from the well trodden streets can be good fun.

Even Oriental Bay, about 35 minutes walk from the Terrace, down the Dixon street Steps or Allenby Terrace has a definite appeal on a good blown about day, even if it doesn't inspire you to do thrashing free style out to the fountain. Eating an icecream (there are several dairies on the parade all open on Sundays) and walking up and down Oriental Parade observing the ferry coming in and eyeing up the variety of early homes on the hillside behind can be surprisingly enjoyable.

Both Central Park (above the end of Willis St) and Kelburn Park (a stone's throw from the Hunter Building) offer near panoramic views of the city. Catch a No. 14 bus to Wadestown (check the Sunday bus timetable before you stand at the bus stop in the wind) and wander up Tinakori Hill to view the entire harbour if you're lucky. If you have transport, drive out to Khandallah and race up Mt. Kau Kau (about one hour's walk). A well defined track through native bush, and carved steps further up, makes the climb most bearable and very acceptable. Even if the cloud is lowish, a view of some sort is guaranteed and its a good place to blow away the cobwebs.

If all this seems far too energetic, even a quick ten minute excursion to the local shop to buy a packet of Bournvita is well worth the effort of a brief struggle with the elements, even if it is for the sense of relief you feel when you get back home again.

Winter walks on mouldy Sunday afternoons are to be highly recommended, they are absolutely free and require only a sense of optimism in rotten weather, warm clothes, waterproof boots and warm Brandy on returning.

Ann Warnock