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!
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!