DOC and Sport Wanganui Push Play
Date: 05 November 2008
DOC and Sport Wanganui got together recently to promote Push Play Nation by offering guided walks to the Atene Skyline.
The Atene Viewpoint walk is a short steady climb to the lookout offering spectacular views of the valley below and the vastness of the Whanganui National Park. The walk travels through both native bush and farmland up an historic roadway (privately owned) that was built by the former Ministry of Works and Development in 1959 during investigations for a Whanganui River hydro-electric power generation scheme.
For the enthusiastic the walk continues along the Atene skyline for approximately 6 hours before descending back down to the River Road.
There are two entrances to this almost circular track, one before and one just past Atene on the Whanganui River Road, 36 km from Wanganui. There is ample roadside parking near both entrances.
Push Play Nation, an initiative promoted by Sport and Recreation New Zealand, runs every year for the month of October and this year Sport Wanganui offered plenty of opportunities for everyone to get out there and get active from guided walks to other initiatives like the tough kid challenge involving schools from around the region.
Promoting recreation locally is also a priority for DOC and there are many options available for Wanganui locals to get out and enjoy the great outdoors by making use of some of the many recreation opportunities available on public conservation land.