Te Ara Pukapuka Children’s Walk at Khandallah Park

During the summer, some of you might have visited Te Ara Pukapuka (The Book Pathway) at Churchill Park in Seatoun. Tamariki and their whānau had the opportunity to explore the rugged and beautiful coastline while immersing themselves in a beautiful story, The Taniwha of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, by author Moira Wairama.

Good news — we have again partnered with our friends in Wellington City Parks, Sport & Recreation team as well as author Gay Hay to present Te Ara Pukapuka at Khandallah Park for the autumn!

A large, flat board atop a wooden post stands in front of a tangle of lush greenery at the entrance to Khandallah Park's Skyline Track.

The opening page of Te Ara Pukapuka awaits you at Khandallah Park!


This walk begins at the end of the Khandallah Park Playground in Khandallah, near the Skyline Track (map of Woodmancote Road entrance), where a trip to the bush can extend to a walk inspired by a very special story about the Powelliphanta snail, a giant carnivorous native snail that can be found living right here in Khandallah Park! If you’d like to learn more about these slow-moving giants, who like to slurp up earthworms like spaghetti, a great place to start is by reading this article from the Te Papa blog about their history in Khandallah.

As you walk through the park trails, you will encounter more and more pages of Gay Hay’s beautiful pukapuka, Watch Out, Snail!, with the promise of a continuation of the story always just around the next corner. Can you find all of the pages?

This page is nestled in a bush just off the beaten track!


Te Ara Pukapuka will remain up at Khandallah Park throughout the holidays and into Term 2, so explore it while you can!

Teddy Bear Sleepover at Khandallah Library

Yes, you heard right — the Great Teddy Bear Sleepover is coming to Khandallah Library again! Bring your favourite teddy bear or soft toy and join us for a super fun half hour of stories, songs, and activities, then leave your teddies behind to have a big sleepover with all their new friends. Who knows what they’ll get up to in the library after hours… pick them up on Friday to find out!

Where? Khandallah Library, 8 Ganges Road, Khandallah
When? Thursday 26th July, 6:30pm

Teddy bears read!

Teddies can read too, you know!

At Khandallah Library, we host special events for children and their families on the last Thursday of each month at 6:30pm. Keep an eye on the Kids Blog and the library noticeboard, or call the library on 479 7535 to find out more!

April School Holiday Fun!

Did you know that dragonflies have been around for 300 million years or that our native snail, the Powelliphanta, can live for up to 20 years? What do you know about bugs and other creepy crawlies? Love them or hate them bugs are fascinating! In fact at Wellington Libraries we think Bugs are so awesome we put beehives on the roof of Central Library.

These school holidays we are going to be worming our way into the World of bugs, through games, fun facts, microscopes and crafts. So fly down to your local library and join in with some of the fun, free activities we have on offer, during the April school holidays.

These free events are for children aged 6+

Mervyn Kemp  Library – Tawa: Wednesday 19 April at 11am

Karori Library: Wednesday 19 April at 2pm

Ruth Gotlieb Library – Kilbirnie: Thursday 20 April at 10.30am

Cummings Park Library – Ngaio: Friday 21 April at 11am

Miramar Library: Wednesday 26 April at 10.30am

Wellington Central Library: Thursday 27th April at 11am

Johnsonville Library: Thursday 27th April at 11am

Khandallah Library: Thursday 27 April at 6pm

Newtown Library: Friday 28 April at 6pm