Love the great outdoors!

Stepping out at Belmont Regional Park

From toddlers to experienced trampers and even your pet dog... there’s been something for everyone in the 2010 Great Outdoors summer events programme.

Greater Wellington’s summer events programme has come a long way since it began in 2001. Back then there were 34 events run in our regional parks and forests. This year there are more than 60, with thousands of people from all over the region enjoying activities such as buggy walks with Kev the Wandering Kiwi, Paws in the Park in Upper Hutt’s Tunnel Gully and gliding at Pakuratahi Forest.

 There’s still time to join in the fun before the programme finishes in April. See what’s coming up: www.gw.govt.nz/events

On top of the world

 Kay Flude prepares to take to the skies during the Upper Valley Gliding Club’s open day on a rare calm and warm Saturday in January, as her pilot, club president Wayne Fisk, does a pre-flight check. For Kay it was the chance to fulfil a long-held desire. She and partner Stephen lived in the village of Bottisham in Cambridgeshire, England, near a gliding club and she had always enjoyed watching the gliders soar above her and wondered what it would be like.

“It was a thrill and I’d love to do it again,” said Kay after the flight. “You get such a different perspective from up there, everything looks so close. And all you hear is the sound of the wind against the glider.

Pilot Wayne Fisk prepares Kay Flude for takeoff

The Upper Valley Gliding Club (also known as Gliding Hutt Valley) operates from a secluded airstrip next to Pakuratahi Forest. The club offers trial flights and always welcomes newcomers, says Wayne Fisk.

“We’re a small club and because of our location many people don’t know we’re here but this is a great place to glide – you can see from Cape Palliser to Kapiti Island.”

The open day was part of this year’s Great Outdoors summer events programme. To find out about trial flights or membership (free for under 18s) see www.glidinghuttvalley.co.nz.