Video: Trail event brings walkers and runners to Hawke’s Bay

A year after giving Hawke’s Bay’s Vineyard Vista Trail a go, Irene van Dyk returned on Saturday as a series ambassador.

The former Silver Fern joined walkers and runners at Black Barn Vineyards for the Hawke’s Bay leg of the Aramex Kiwi Walk & Run Trail Series.

Participants chose from distances of 5.8km, 12.3km and 14.5km through the Havelock North countryside, starting and finishing at the vineyard.

Van Dyk described the day as “absolutely fantastic”, despite the weather.

“I know the weather didn’t quite play ball today, but you know, the fun thing about an event like this is it doesn’t matter how fit you are or how strong you are, you do this at your own pace.”

She said the choice of distances allowed participants to find an option that suited them, while the atmosphere was “really warm and welcoming and inviting”.

Event director Lauren Watson said the Hawke’s Bay event was usually one of the largest in the ten-event series, with about 70 per cent of participants coming from outside the region.

“We get hundreds and hundreds of participants driving and flying from all over the country.”

Watson said many visitors made a weekend of the event.

“So they come, have an awesome walk, trail run, and then they just spend the weekend here and go to the vineyard, stay at the accommodation, eat at the restaurants, and make a fun weekend of it.”

The series began in 2020 after organisers identified a gap for an event welcoming people of different ages and fitness levels, Watson said.

“And it’s just about Kiwis getting out and exploring their backyard.”

Van Dyk said she “just fell in love with it” after trying the Hawke’s Bay event last year, and was subsequently invited to become an ambassador.

The opportunity to take part with family and explore together was part of its appeal.

“It’s just an awesome way to get to explore our backyard.”