Children climbing the walls these holidays are being encouraged to climb hills instead.
Alice Brice, the creator of The South Canterbury Adventure Kids Facebook group, is sharing three of her favourite walks in the region to help the process along.
The Facebook group, set up in 2016, was created to help others to break down the barriers which prevented them from getting out into nature with children.
She said if parents had never done a certain walk — or never walked it with kids — then they would have no idea how long it might take, or at what age a child might be able to walk it, and that was where knowledge sharing helped.
Mrs Brice’s family has just arrived back from Huxley Forks, which 8-year-old Felicity claims was ‘‘a little bit’’ tiring.
Her 6-year-old brother, Hugo, disagrees.
The two children are old hands when it comes to walks around the region with enough knowledge to give out their own advice on walks.
Felicity said parents should make sure to pack water bottles and lollies.
Mrs Brice said the only time she bought her children lollies was when they were hiking. She always allowed them the choice of selecting snacks before a tramp.
‘‘Hiking with kids, I have noticed things I never would have noticed before, even on tracks I’m familiar with.’’
She encouraged parents to let their kids stop and throw stones in the river or climb trees, not to try to rush their children to make a good time.
‘‘These little stops might actually be their favourite part.’’
Recently the kids went to bed half an hour late after she found them rolling about in the long grass in their thermals.
‘‘They were having fun, how could you stop them?’’
For her, walking was a chance to spend time with her children.
‘‘We really connect and chat.’’
It allowed them time in spent nature and learn life skills, and she said it had taught her kids resilience.
White Horse walkway
Mrs Brice said the easiest of her top three walks was the White Horse Walkway, outside of Waimate.
She felt a determined 3-yearold could get up the hill which has plenty of seats for stops. There is also the option of carrying them for a bit.
She said to allow two hours for the walk.
Mrs Brice felt the perfect part about it was if anything went wrong one parent could rush down and get the car and meet them at the top. Felicity said her favourite thing about the walk was ‘‘adding the tail on to the horse’’. As the White Horse Monument was a Clydesdale with no visible tail, she had found the perfect branch to place on the horse’s rump in lieu of it. Mrs Brice said with a good bakery in town the walk allowed a picnic with spectacular views. But for people taking a homemade picnic, Hugo recommended peanut butter, jam and honey all squashed into one sandwich. a 4.4km return with 300m elevation gain a Park at the top of Point Bush Rd, Waimate a No dogs at the moment due to a pest-eradication programme. a Lookout areas with seats along the way a Views at the top, with toilets and lookout platforms, and the opportunity to walk on the white horse a Favourite bits for the kids — hanging out at the top.
Kakahu track
Mrs Brice said to allow three and a-half hours for this walk. The track began by the historic kiln. She called it a ‘‘lollipop loop’’ as they had to walk in before making a loop. ‘‘I’m not sure if that is a legitimate term.’’ She said for these harder walks, ‘‘taking friends is such a big motivator for kids’’. The first part of the walk went along a river which her children found enjoyable. It took three and a-half hours with snacks and stops. a 8.5km with 350m elevation gain a Park on Hall Rd, Kakahu, between Geraldine and Fairlie a No dogs a Favourite bits for kids — Pinnacles lookout and the river section.
Mt Nimrod track
Near Cave, the Mt Nimrod Track had plenty of ‘‘technical’’ climbing and was much steeper than the other two. She said the children enjoyed it, especially as there was a tent and marshmallows waiting for them at the campsite. There was a short diversion to the waterfall but parents should be careful as it could be slippery. Felicity and Hugo enjoyed all the climbing. a 3.5km with 450m elevation gain a Park at the Nimrod Doc campsite out the back of Cannington a No dogs a Technical loop which is best done anticlockwise with kids a Many sections where you have to use your hands to climb a A waterfall, and a high point with great views
