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Ian Olson, Operations Manager: email tauranga@adrenalin-forest.co.nz YMCA YMCA youngster Arneke Gibbs with two German volunteer students Louisa Degener and Annika Butzbach kids enjoy Park day out A great day was had at the Park by 48 youngsters from Tauranga YMCA. The kids, aged from 5 to-8 year olds from the Mount and Memorial Park YMCA, spent almost a full day at the Park in January as part of the YMCA holiday programme. They walked the Te Rerenga Tunnel Track and through the historic tunnel led with their supervisors and led by guide Sam McInnes – son of Park Ranger Jarron McInnes. Tunnel gloworms, a big weta and the giant redwood tree along the tunnel track were among the exciting sights seen by the children. Leader Natalie said the kids were great on the adventure and were great representatives for YMCA. They all gave trail leader Sam McInnes a thumbs up on return to base. The kids had lunch and then a sausage sizzle cooked on a fired barbeque under the trees next to the Arrival Centre. After lunch the children played several games before returning (exhausted) to town. Jean Caillabet shows how it is done Plenty of adrenalin flowing in Park’s newest forest The Park’s newest commercial venture – Adrenalin Forest – is proving a winner with people of all ages and levels of confidence. The high wire challenge opened in November 2011 and, despite a watery start due to the awful weather before and after Christmas, the venture has attracted ever-increasing participation. The lovely weather in January has seen the high wire course buzzing and Operations Manager Ian Olson is delighted with the positive feedback he is getting from participants. Anniversary Weekend and Waitangi Day weekend saw up to 75 people through the course each day. The participant trend is even across the board, says Ian – teenagers, families, groups of guys and girls and older people testing their confidence. The highest platform at the Adrenalin Park “The good thing with this course is that everyone gets to their personal peak level – there is no competition or pressure. We have had a big mix of people up here – families and a lot of repeat customers, some of whom have brought their friends to have a go.’’ Set in a grove of 25-year-old pine trees, not far from the Park’s Arrival Centre, Adrenalin Forest is a multi-level course featuring aerial pathways between trees The good thing with this course is that everyone gets to their personal peak level – there is no competition. including flying foxes, swing bridges, nets and barrels. With more than 90 challenges and 20 flying foxes the course is used for fitness, adventure activity, team-building exercises, a family day out or, for some, a way to overcome their fear for heights, says Ian. Ian encourages people to give it a go. Ian and Lukas This Adrenalin Forest is the third to open in New Zealand following Christchurch and Wellington under the expert tutelage of Adrenalin Forest Director Jean Caillabet. Jean, a qualified canoe-kayak instructor, ski alpine instructor, avalanche specialist, alpine guide and rope access work specialist, introduced Adrenalin Forest to New Zealand. Jean is proud of his TECT Park staff. They have worked tirelessly through summer – despite the challenging weather. Even on the wettest days some stalwart adventurers arrived at the Park keen to try their high wire skills. Full entry is open to those who are taller than 1.45m while the first two pathways are open to persons over 1.3m. The course is mainly suited to people over 10 or 11 years of age. The cost of entry is $25 for a child and $38 for an adult. Other prices apply for students and younger children and there are special discounts for school groups including free passes to local school teachers who may want to come up and check out the course before taking students to the Park. The Adrenalin Park team Schools welcome at the Park School bookings are starting to fill up the 2012 calendar at Adrenalin Park – schools are planning camps at the Park to include a programme of walking the historic tunnel track, flying the high wires at Adrenalin Forest and exploring the mountain bike trails. If you would like to book your school group in, it may pay to book your time early so as not to be disappointed. For more information contact:
Park Manager leaves on high note Unveiling the commemorative plaque celebrating the TECT All <strong>Terrain</strong> Park as New Zealand’s Most Outstanding Park was the last official duty for departing Park Manager Ric Balfour last month. The occasion was Ric’s farewell party and barbeque at the Park hub and the plaque unveiling was seen as a fitting finale to Ric’s four-year term as the first Park Manager during which time the Park has been transformed from a wilderness to one of New Zealand’s finest recreational assets. Council’s Reserves and Facilities Manager Peter Watson spoke of the energy, vision, principles and hard work that Ric had brought to the Park. “I appreciated Ric’s strength of character and his commitment to sticking to his principles – sometimes against the odds. “Ric brought a strong planning rationale to the Park and he is not afraid of hard work – he gaves 100 percent every minute of the time. He has been the right person to get this Park up and running,’’ said Peter. Ric spoke of the tremendous opportunity he had grabbed when he took up the manager’s job in 2007 and moved his family back to his homeland New Zealand after 20 years’ working in the forestry, outdoor recreation Horse riders at the Park will be grateful for the shelters that Council has erected on the equestrian hub. Council has constructed a weather shelter at the equestrian car park and yards site and another picnic table is to be added to the area. Pikopiko Trails equestrian spokesman Aaron Duggan says the shelter is a great asset to the hub and he thanks the Council for its generosity. Council will be organising the staining of the shelters in the near future. New trail maps for mountain bikers, trampers and horse riders are available at the Arrival “Together we have produced a Park that is welcoming and inclusive and it has been an honour to be a part of this project.’’ and environmental education industry in the United States. “I had a sense of being able to take all the academic training and practical experience I had in the States and find something in New Zealand that I could get my teeth into,’’ said Ric. That ‘something’ was the unopened TECT All <strong>Terrain</strong> Park – at the time just a concept on paper but with the land purchased and the funding ready to start the first stage. Under Ric’s guidance the Park has progressed from a plantation forest combined with gorse and rubbish to a Park recognised by the recreation industry in 2011 with the Outstanding Park of the Year Award given by the NZ Parks and Recreation Association. Ric said being part of the team that has taken the Park to this stage has been a privilege. Shelters add comfort for horse riders Centre information board and weather shelter to help everyone find their way around the Park. Horse riders are asked to please ensure you keep to your trails and don’t be tempted onto the mountain bike or walking tracks. For everyone’s enjoyment of the Park it is critical that we all respect each other’s terrain and keep to our own tracks. Pikopiko Equestrian is scoping out a new trail to the south - if this pans out, it will make a significantly longer trail loop. Fingers crossed that this works out favourably for horse riders. “I commend the bravery of Western Bay and Tauranga City councils to deliver such a great recreational asset to the region. It is an incredibly far sighted vision that I have supported 100 percent. “Together we have produced a Park that is welcoming and inclusive and it has been an honour to be a part of this project.’’ Ric leaves to take up the position of chief executive officer of the Tauranga YMCA – a decision he said was difficult but he felt the Park was at a point where he felt content about moving to his next career challenge. He intends remaining in touch with the Park through voluntary work and increasing the YMCA holiday programmes and overnight camps that have already been established in the Park. “Watch this space,’’ says Ric. “I may be gone but I am certainly not out!’’ A new horse trail down from the repeater to complete a loop back toward the road and down to the old wooden bridge is about to be cleared. Ric (middle) with colleagues Jarron McInnes (left) and Peter Watson (right) If you have any good horse riding photos in the Park we welcome you to send them to us – please email them to the Newsletter editor at ruthwoodward@kinect.co.nz with a brief caption.
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