Walking is said to be the nearest thing to perfect exercise. You don’t need to learn anything, you can do it when it suits you and it doesn’t require special clothes.
Take your dog out, visit a local park or reserve, meander along the beach, or explore the hills – there are numerous ways to walk while having a good time.
Walk with a group, catch up with friends, chat with neighbours, swap gardening tips (and cuttings), and get to know your area.
Getting started
It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning to walk if you suffer from any medical conditions or have health worries.
Start slowly as you would with any exercise programme and increase the level and distance once you feel comfortable.
- Remember to walk slowly for five minutes to warm up.
- Stretch to prevent injury and increase flexibility.
- Wear light, comfortable clothing in the summer and warm, waterproof clothing in the winter.
- Choose well-fitting, cushion-soled shoes, preferably with adequate grip on the soles.
- Remember sunscreen, a hat and fluids to drink.
- For more ideas on how to get started visit the Starting Out Walking section on the Active Canterbury website(external link).
Find a group
There are more than 60 walking groups listed below.
| Group | Ability | When and where | Contact | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avon Tramping Club | Intermediate to advanced |
Wednesday We meet at various times and places |
Garry Roberts 027 349 7865 Facebook(external link) |
$30 plus transport costs |
Day tramps and occasionally overnight trips and base camps. Day tramps are normally 4.5 to 6 hours of moderate fitness required. |
| Lambda Lattes | Intermediate to advanced |
Sunday 10am fortnightly Phone for the meeting place |
John Wooles |
We meet at different parts of the city depending on where we are tramping. Carpool to keep costs as low as possible for members. |
|
| Lambda Trampers | Advanced |
Sunday 8am or 9am fortnightly Phone for the meeting place. |
Bryan Glichrist 022 162 1410 Facebook(external link) |
Transport costs |
Day tramps and walking around Canterbury. Social group for LGBTQ+. All ages are welcome. |
| Thursday Walkers | Beginner to intermediate |
Thursday 10am to 10.45am Different meeting spots each week |
Beverley Evans 027 337 6256 Website(external link) |
A 45-minute walk for fun and friendship, finishing with an optional coffee and chat afterwards. | |
| Christchurch City Walkers | Intermediate |
Tuesday 10.30am Phone for a programme. |
Pauline Murphy |
Free |
Walks around Christchurch for 1.5 to 2 hours. BYO lunch. Men and women in the 65+ age group are welcome. |
| Eastenders | Intermediate |
Monday 10am Phone for the meeting point. |
Doreen Pearey 021 101 7477 |
$5 per year plus carpool costs. |
Friendly walking group that walks around various areas for 5 to 10km. All ages are welcome. BYO morning tea and lunch. |
| Happy Ramblers | Beginner |
Tuesday 10am Meet at various locations. |
Claudia 03 342 5608 |
$10 per year |
Walks around various areas for the 65+ age group. Men and women are welcome. |
| Garden City Walkers | Intermediate |
Saturday 9.30am Phone for the meeting points. |
Deanne 03 338 8604 |
Friendly walking group, various venues, both hill and flat walks, between 2.5 and 3 hours. | |
| Peninsula Tramping Club | Advanced |
Saturday and Sunday various times See our website or phone for the meeting point |
Email Website(external link) Facebook(external link) |
Varies |
Regular trips cater for people of different levels of fitness and tramping experience. Trips range from easy to hard and may be anything from day trips to long weekends to a week or more. |
| Pioneer Trampers | Advanced |
Thursday 8.30am or 9am Meet at one of three places around the perimeter of Christchurch. |
Bevin Brett |
Carpool costs |
Walking on Thursdays in various places around Canterbury for 5 to 6 hours. A good level of fitness is required. BYO morning tea and lunch. |
| Christchurch City Council Recreation and Sports Sunday Walks | Beginner to intermediate |
Sunday 10.30am Meet at various locations |
Community Recreation Advisor 03 941 8999 Website(external link) |
Free |
1-hour walks, mostly flat, around Christchurch with interesting facts along the way. All ages and abilities are welcome. |
| Salvation Army Linwood | Beginner to advanced |
Tuesday 10am Meet at the weekly walk location |
Rodney 03 981 3215 |
Free |
Walks around various areas in Christchurch for 1 to 1.5 hours. All ages and abilities are welcome. |
| My Walking Group | Beginner to advanced |
Saturday and Sunday various times Meet at various locations |
Bevan 027 752 9766 |
$15 per year | Walking group for 60+ singles. Flat and hill walks. Also, other events. |
| Tower Tramping Club | Intermediate to advanced |
Tuesday Contact Yvonne for a programme |
Yvonne |
$10 per year plus carpool costs |
Varied walks around the Canterbury area. Minimum 4-hour tramps. |
| Tuesday Trekkers | Intermediate to advanced |
Tuesday 8.30am or 9.30am Meet at various locations |
Sue Warman |
$15 per year plus transport costs |
Walks around Canterbury. Occasional club trips away. Two different ability groups advanced and semi-advanced. |
| Wayfarers | Beginner to intermediate |
Thursday 9.45am Meet at various locations |
Lilly Chamberlain 03981 9545 or 021 399 546 |
$5 per year |
Walks around Christchurch for men and women in the 50+ age group. Optional monthly joint luncheon. |
| Weekend Wanderers | Intermediate |
Sunday 1.30pm fortnightly Meet at various locations |
Stephanie Williams |
Carpool costs |
Walks around various Christchurch locations for approximately 2 hours. Occasionally, longer trips away. |
| XY's Walkers | Intermediate to advanced |
Thursday 9.30am Meet at various locations |
Dee |
Mainly hill walks of 3 to 4 hours around Christchurch. |
| Group | Ability | When and where | Contact | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishopdale Ramblers | Intermediate |
Wednesday 9.30am Meet at the Bishopdale Library car park |
Jonathan Allan 03 356 1819 or 021 151 3094 |
$5 or $10 for out-of-town trips |
A mixed group of people who meet every Wednesday to enjoy the outdoors and each other's company for a 7 to 8 km walk with stops for morning tea and lunch. The varied programme includes flat, coastal, and bush walks around the city, plus some to outer areas. |
| Burnside Joggers and Walkers Club | Beginner to advanced |
Sunday 8.30am Meet at Burnside Park Squash Clubrooms |
Geoff Ellis 021 2077 161 Facebook(external link) |
Approx. $50 per year |
Walks and runs (5 or 8km) around the Northwest/Burnside area. All ages welcome. A shower and a cup of tea afterwards are available. A trip once a month to another location. Contact them through their Facebook page. |
| Bishopdale Tramping Club | Beginner to advanced |
Wednesday 8.30am Leaves the car park at Bishopdale Mall at 8.30am, or occasionally 8am, and returns by about 5pm |
Steve Barrow 027 432 7421 Website(external link) |
$25 per tramp | The club organises day tramps on Wednesdays over a wide range of tracks on public reserves, regional parks, forests and private farmland throughout Christchurch, Mid and North Canterbury.
|
| North West Hikers | Beginner to advanced |
Wednesday times varies between 8am to 9am Meet at Bishopdale Mall's rear car park |
Margeret Heveldt 022 601 0391 |
Varies |
Hiking and tramping for leisure and pleasure is the aim of our club. With many varied hikes and tramps that suit different levels of fitness, we explore many parts of the greater Christchurch and Canterbury areas, even at times the greater South Island. |
| Papanui Walk n Talk | Beginner |
Wednesday 1pm Check the website for more details |
Community Recreation Advisor 03 941 8999 Website(external link) |
Free |
A beginner's walking group with a 40-minute walk. Some away walks. Informative talks bi-monthly. Meet at Papanui Library, corner Restell Street and Langdons Road, unless otherwise specified. |
| Women's Social Walking Group | Beginner to intermediate |
Tuesday Winter 10am, Summer 9.30am Meet at Bishopdale Community Hub, 94 Farrington Ave |
Bishopdale Community Trust 03 359 1741 |
$30 per year plus morning tea costs as applicable |
An active walking group doing a variety of walks including reserves and walkways, school walks and loop walks for 30 to 60 minutes. Finish up at Bishopdale Community Hub for morning tea. |
| Kiwifit Northlands | Beginner to intermediate | Tuesday and Thursday 7.45am to 8.45am | Northlands Customer Services 03 352 6535 Website(external link) |
Free |
Kiwifit is a free community walking programme run in Northlands Shopping Centre, providing our members with a chance to socialise and meet new people while keeping active. Register at the Customer Service Desk next to ANZ during Northland Mall centre hours before coming along to your first session. |
| Group | Ability | When and where | Contact | Costs | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WACST@Burwood | Beginner to intermediate |
Thursday 10.30am Meet at 130 Burwood Road |
Betty Chapman 03 389 2285 or 027 727 8277 Facebook(external link) |
$2 for transport | Flat walks around the local area for 3 to 5km. |
| Linwood Walk n Talk | Beginner |
Wednesday 10am Meet at Linwood Union Church, corner of Tilford Street and Linwood Ave, unless otherwise specified |
Community Recreation Advisor 03 941 8999 Website(external link) |
Free |
A beginner's walking group with a 40-minute walk. Some away walks. Informative talks bi-monthly. |
| Lyttelton Strollers | Intermediate |
Thursday 10am in summer, 10.30am in winter Meet at the Lyttelton Library |
Reuben 028 400 1036 |
Transport or carpool costs |
Walks around the local area as well as visiting different beaches, gardens, and places of interest. The group carpools and finishes at a café. |
| Mt Pleasant Walking Group | Intermediate |
Tuesday and Thursday 9.30am Meet at Mt Pleasant Community Centre car park, McCormacks Bay Road |
Beverley Buist: |
Carpool costs |
Walking group for 50+ age group. Walks on flat and hills around various areas for up to two hours. Tuesday and Thursday mornings, also some Wednesday whole day, more challenging outings, higher level of fitness required. |
| Shirley Recreational Walkers | Intermediate |
Monday 9.30am Meet on the corner of Chancellor Street and Shirley Road |
Sue Lang 03 981 7071 or 027 775 4635 |
Transport costs | Walks around various flat areas. All ages are welcome.
|
| Shirley Recreational Walkers | Advanced |
Thursday 9.30am Meet on the corner of Chancellor Street and Shirley Road |
Sue Lang 03 981 7071 or 027 775 4635 |
Transport costs | Walks around various Hills areas. All ages are welcome.
|
| The Palms Walkers | Beginner |
The last Thursday of every month 8.30am to 9am Meet outside Muffin Break by the food court at 8.30am |
Customer Services 03 385 3067 Website(external link) |
Free |
Walking group for seniors aged 65+. Walk throughout the centre, taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle while making friendships along the way. All walkers will receive a free coffee or cuppa provided afterwards. |
| Group | Ability | When and where | Contact | Costs | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women out Walking - Akaroa | Intermediate to advanced |
Thursday 10am Phone for meeting points |
Kathleen 021 622 471 |
Carpool costs |
A social walking group for women of all ages in and around Akaroa and the outer bays. No dogs or children are permitted due to the environment of the walks. Phone for more information |
| Beckenham Walk n Talk | Beginner |
Thursday 1pm Check the website for more details |
Community Recreation Advisor 03 941 8999 Website(external link) |
Free |
A beginner's walking group with a 40-minute walk. Some away walks. Informative talks bi-monthly. Meet at the corner of Birdwood Ave and Malcolm Ave, unless otherwise specified. |
| Diamond Harbour Ramblers | Intermediate |
Tuesday 10am, but can vary Meeting points vary, please phone |
Mahony May 03 329 4639 |
$15 for the year plus shared transport costs |
Flat and hill walks around various areas, including trips away. BYO morning tea and lunch. Call to confirm start time, good fitness and connection to Diamond Harbour required. |
| Halswell Walk n Talk | Beginner |
Monday 10am Check the website for more details. |
Community Recreation Advisor 03 941 8999 Website(external link) |
Free |
A beginner's walking group with a 40-minute walk. Some away walks. Informative talks bi-monthly. Meet at Te Hapua Halswell Centre, Halswell Library, unless otherwise specified. |
| Hoon Hay Walking Group | Beginner to intermediate |
Wednesday 10am Meet at Hoon Hay Road |
Barbara Sparks 03 338 8306 |
$3 for carpool if going away |
Walking group for the 50+ age group. Walk for approximately 1 hour. Phone before attending. |
| Port Hills Walkers | Advanced | Thursday 9am | Ann Hamilton 03 348 6364 EmailWebsite(external link) |
Transport costs |
Walk in various places around Canterbury for 3 to 4 hours for all age groups. A good level of fitness is needed, plus appropriate shoes. BYO morning tea and lunch. Please note that this group is currently at capacity. |
| Group | Ability | When and where | Contact | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fendalton Walk n Talk | Beginner to intermediate |
Thursday 10am Meet at Fendalton Library, corner Jeffery and Clyde Roads, unless otherwise specified |
Community Recreation Advisor 03 941 8999 Website(external link) |
Free |
A beginner's walking group with a 40-minute walk. Some away walks. Informative talks bi-monthly. Check the website for more details. |
| Merivale Seniors Walking Group | Beginner to intermediate |
Monday 10am Meets at 10am inside Merivale Mall, in front of the supermarket |
Doreen Grey 03 356 0098 |
Optional coffee afterwards |
Walking group for the 60+ age group. |