Welcome to the ECHO Walking Festival!

April 10 to April 22, 2012 - Enjoy Connecting Hills & Oceans


Windows Walkway (Photo: Positively Paeroa)

Here is the link so you can check out our festival spot prize winners http://www.echowalkfest.org.nz/prizes/?stage=Live

The winners of our 2012 photo competition are:

Jaimee Strevens 1st place, $100 (Orokawa Bay - William Wright Falls Walk); Ava Ruth Baker 2nd place, $50 (Dubbo to Dickies Flat Walk); Vicki Stenbeck 3rd Place, $25 (Coromandel Coastal Walkway)

Follow this link to read participant John Campbell's summary of the Paeroa - Waitekauri Packhorse Track http://www.echowalkfest.org.nz/paeroa-to-waitekauri-packhorse-track/?stage=Stage

ECHO 2012

We have had a great walking festival and been blessed with the most wonderful weather. Sincere thanks must go to our:
EVENT ORGANISERS:
DOC, Positive Paeroa, Go Waihi, KatchKatikati, Sport N Action Waihi and Sport Waikato. Also to the associated i-Sites
EVENT SUPPORTERS:
Hauraki District Council, Matamata/Piako District Council; Thames-Coromandel District Council, Trust Waikato and the community boards of Katikati, Te Aroha and Paeroa

EVENT PRIZE SPONSORS
Whiritoa Bach; Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat; Aroha Mountain Lodge; Poets Corner Lodge; DOC; Katikati Bird Gardens; Raratu Lodge, Karangahake; Falls Retreat Bistro; Cave Cruzer Adventures; Whitianga Combat Zone
And finally a special thanks to our volunteer guides (we couldn't do it without you) and to all our participants. We hope you enjoyed our walks. Please check into our website for our summary sheet a little later next month. 

Dame Susan Devoy to launch ECHO Walking Festival

This year’s ECHO Walking Festival will be launched on April 10th with a family-friendly walk at Otanewainuku Forest near Tauranga, marking the start of the Easter School Holidays. Dame Susan Devoy is launching the festival and is inviting people of all ages to get fit while enjoying free guided walks on public conservation land:
“We are lucky to have so many walks on offer in our region and this is a great chance to get fit, socialise, explore our region and have fun”, says Susan.
Featuring 30 different walks in the Kaimai and Coromandel areas, ECHO is in its ninth year offering unique activities including a train trip from Waihi (Waihi Express, April 13th), guided tours of historic sites (Waiorongomai Rails and Trails, April 17th), a children’s night-time adventure in Karangahake (Mining Days, April 21st) and for the first time a walk just for dogs and their owners (Tide’s out, April 22nd).
Regular walkers will find something to challenge them and so will newbies to walking. “Everyone will find something in the programme to suit them”, says Festival committee member and DOC Ranger Pete Huggins. “We’d like to thank all our supporters this year, especially Susan for agreeing to launch our festival this year, plus the local authorities and town promoters, Sport Waikato and the Department of Conservation, and our volunteer guides. Bringing the festival to life is a team effort”.

Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat

A proud supporter of the ECHO Walking Festival, I can personally relay to you that the winner of this accommodation spot prize is a very lucky person indeed! During the weekend, I had the opportunity to witness the first class venue, food, beverages and surroundings of the Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat. Add to that the friendly staff and this place is indeed an experience not to be missed. Make sure you register and complete one of our walks to be in to win this special prize. Check out all our wonderful spot prizes to be won on our prize page. Julie (ECHO Committee)

A perspective on the festival: Read the view of Anee Harris, Town Promoter involved with Positive Paeroa.

If you missed out this time, see the range of walks and be sure to join us from April 10 - 22. See our Walks page for more details
You can also download the brochure (PDF1.3 mb).

ECHO Walking Festival is brought to you by Sport Waikato, Department of Conservation, Town Promoters and Information Centres

Costs

Your donation is appreciated to help us meet the costs associated with the festival.
'ROAD SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY'

Photography Competition

Our photography competition is on again for 2012. Be in to win!

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