Walking festival puts best foot forward

Hundreds enjoyed the sights of the region on offer during the Rotorua Walking Festival. Photo / Stephen Parker

The Rotorua Walking Festival was again a hit with both visitors and locals.

Hundreds of walkers, many from overseas, took part in the annual festival over the two-day event. On offer were 10km, 21km and 42km walks through the Whakarewarewa Forest, while yesterday's 10km, 20km and 30km routes took in the CBD, lakefront and geothermal areas.

Rotorua Walking Festival committee chairman Deryck Shaw said the event was now in its 22nd year.

"It has gone has fantastically well. We had really good support and really great feedback around the event," he said.

"There was a family who came up to me and told me how the walks were really well rated. They were from Australia and said ,'You're one of the three best walks in the world'."

Mr Shaw said even locals took part and enjoyed themselves as often residents took for granted what was on their doorstep. Participants included visitors from Russia, Czech Republic, France, United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

"There were more people than last year, over 300 every day, but I think the cyclone did put a few people off. The weather was still really outstanding but because of the potential of it, it put off a few people, particularly from Auckland, taking part."

He said the success of the festival was also due to the strong local support from businesses with 70 spot prizes on offer from a variety of tourism operators, restaurants and retail businesses. Rotorua Lakes High School students also volunteered to marshall areas and help out during the closing ceremony.

"There's a few reasons why people keep coming back, it's a highly-organised event and we're affiliated to a network of walkers - International Mountain Walking and Internationaler Volkssportverb.

"That's probably the main reason, being part of an international network, you have to meet a certain standard and benchmark and we're the only walk in New Zealand to hold that affiliation," Mr Shaw said.

"Over the 20 plus years, we know the importance of the relationships we have with the Rotorua Lakes Council, Events and Venues, Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, Lakes City Athletics Club and Rotorua New Zealand Society - all our head partners.

"They have been really supportive, our Mayor holds a reception each year welcoming the walkers.

"We've had three mayors over the years that have done that and it's a bit of thrill for international people to come and meet the mayor and be greeted with a pohiri."