Many enjoy Rotorua's scenery in Walking Festival

STAMINA: (From left) Rotorua's Emmie Kostrewa, 5, Bieke Kostrewa and Sofie Kostrewa, 8, pound the footpath in the Rotorua Walking Festival. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Locals may have noticed people pounding the streets and the flags of other countries waving around throughout the weekend.

This is because the Rotorua Walking Festival took place this weekend and as well as Kiwis there were walkers from 14 other countries taking part.

Organising committee chairman Deryck Shaw said there were more than 400 walkers who took part this year, with 14 being international.

He said the other countries included Russia, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Norway, England, Australia, the United States of America, Belgium, Lithuania, Canada, South Africa, Denmark and Czech Republic.

Mr Shaw said there were both more international walkers and more walkers overall this year.

On Friday night there had been a Redwood Nocturnal Walk, which was a $5 donation to the Rotorua Botanical Society.

Yesterdaythere were 10km, 21km and 42km walks. Today there were 10km, 20km and 30km walks.

Mr Shaw said he thought the festival did well because there was a contrast between the two days, with one being in the forest and the other going through the geothermal park areas.

"It's quite a unique contrast of environment."

Mr Shaw said it was a nice atmosphere and lots of people were enjoying themselves.

He said with next year being the 25th anniversary it would be a big group.

Waikato's Cherie van der Poel said this was her second year taking part in the festival and it was a family tradition to commemorate their late father, who did it every year.

She said family from Waikato and Taranaki continued to walk, and some family members had been doing it for 19 years.

Often, family members from Holland also joined them, she said.

"For us it's just a great family reunion and it's a beautiful walk too."

She said she would absolutely be returning and they were already talking about next year.

Nancy Steennis from Holland said this was her first time at the Rotorua Walking Festival and she was normally a runner.

She said she was with her uncle who was a walker and was there for his third time.

On Saturday she took part in the 21km and Sunday the 20km, and they had been nice walks, she said.

She said it was also her first time in New Zealand and it was a nice country with nice people.