(E-E/M) Virginia Lake & St. John's Hill Walk (Local Walk with Shorter & Longer Options)
Advertisement
Virginia Lake & St. John's Hill Walk
*Date: Sunday 14th June
*Time: 2pm
*Meeting Location: Main Car Park of Virginia Lake
*Difficulty: Easy to Easy/Mod
*Distance/Time: 2-9km / 30 min-3 hrs
*Elevation Gain: 30-160m
*Leader: Sue
*Dogs Allowed: No
We start this walk with a couple of loops around Virginia Lake, taking the lakeside track first and then the upper tracks, before extending the route for a longer walk around the suburb of St. John's Hill. This walk features four distance options, though the medium-length routes include self-guided sections to get you back to the car park
*(Easy) Short Walk – Virginia Lake Lakeside Track: The short walk portion of today's event consists of one loop around the lakeside track at Virginia Lake.
*Fitness Requirements: This option suits most walking abilities. The track is short—under 2km—and mostly flat, aside from a few small hills. Stairs can be avoided if required
*Distance/Time: 2km / 30 mins
*Elevation Gain: 30m
*(Easy/Mod) Full Walk - Virginia Lake & St. John's Hill Walk:
Once we finish the lake loop and head back to the car park, we’ll hit the top tracks and do about two-thirds of a circuit around the upper part of Virginia Lake until we reach the Band Rotunda. From there, we’ll pop out onto Brassey Road and make our way over to the Alexa Place Zig Zag. We'll follow the tracks winding through the St. John's Hill Greenbelt, which will bring us out right at the top of Victoria Avenue. After that, we’ll skirt around the southwestern corner of St. John's Hill, head up the Ben Place Walkway, and cruise through St. John's Hill School. Finally, we'll take the Aiken Road Walkway to bring us right back to Virginia Lake
*Fitness Requirements: To complete the full walk, you need the ability to cover 9km with a mix of steady climbs and descents, some of which are steep. Some tracks are uneven and may be slippery.
*Distance/Time: 9km / 2.5-3 hrs
*Elevation Gain: 160m
*(Easy) Shorter Medium Option – Virginia Lake & Top Tracks: This follows the full walk—including the lake loop and top tracks—until you reach the Band Rotunda. From there, you will take a self-guided walk down the top tracks and return up Great North Road to the car park.
*Fitness Requirements: This shorter, medium-length option should still suit most fitness levels. It requires walking for 1 to 1.5 hours over a few hills, uneven terrain, and potentially slippery surfaces. Please note that choosing this option means walking back self-guided through Virginia Lake and along Great North Road for 800 metres (approximately 10 minutes).
*Distance/Time: 4.5km / 1-1.5 hrs
*Elevation Gain: 70m
*(Easy/Mod) Longer Medium Option - Lake, Top Tracks plus St Johns Hill Greenbelt Tracks: This route follows the full circuit around the lake and top tracks, before continuing onto the hillside tracks of the greenbelt. After climbing up from Peat Street, this route leaves the full walk and returns self-guided to Virginia Lake via Great North Road
*Fitness Requirements: To complete the longer medium-length option, you need the ability to cover 7km with a mix of steady climbs and descents, some of which are steep. Some tracks are uneven and may be slippery. Please note that choosing this route means walking back self-guided along Great North Road for 1 kilometre (approximately 15 minutes).
*Distance/Time: 6.5km / 1.5-2 hrs
*Elevation Gain: 140m
Links
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vz63MVWkZ49ZovZeA
Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/virginia-lake-st-johns-hill-walk-1123537
(You will need to set up a FREE account with AllTrails to see the interactive map)
Weather: https://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/regions/wanganui/locations/whanganui
Safety Disclaimer
By joining this walk, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own safety and well-being, and have the fitness to be able to complete the walk or the portion you intend to complete. The organisers and leaders will do their best to keep everyone safe, but they are not responsible for any injuries, accidents, or damages that may occur during this walk
Whanganui Walking Group
(River City Walking Group)
Website: whanganuiwalking.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhanganuiWalking
Contract: Willem Doodeman-Beamsley 027 899 2458
Email: [email protected]
*Date: Sunday 14th June
*Time: 2pm
*Meeting Location: Main Car Park of Virginia Lake
*Difficulty: Easy to Easy/Mod
*Distance/Time: 2-9km / 30 min-3 hrs
*Elevation Gain: 30-160m
*Leader: Sue
*Dogs Allowed: No
We start this walk with a couple of loops around Virginia Lake, taking the lakeside track first and then the upper tracks, before extending the route for a longer walk around the suburb of St. John's Hill. This walk features four distance options, though the medium-length routes include self-guided sections to get you back to the car park
*(Easy) Short Walk – Virginia Lake Lakeside Track: The short walk portion of today's event consists of one loop around the lakeside track at Virginia Lake.
*Fitness Requirements: This option suits most walking abilities. The track is short—under 2km—and mostly flat, aside from a few small hills. Stairs can be avoided if required
*Distance/Time: 2km / 30 mins
*Elevation Gain: 30m
*(Easy/Mod) Full Walk - Virginia Lake & St. John's Hill Walk:
Once we finish the lake loop and head back to the car park, we’ll hit the top tracks and do about two-thirds of a circuit around the upper part of Virginia Lake until we reach the Band Rotunda. From there, we’ll pop out onto Brassey Road and make our way over to the Alexa Place Zig Zag. We'll follow the tracks winding through the St. John's Hill Greenbelt, which will bring us out right at the top of Victoria Avenue. After that, we’ll skirt around the southwestern corner of St. John's Hill, head up the Ben Place Walkway, and cruise through St. John's Hill School. Finally, we'll take the Aiken Road Walkway to bring us right back to Virginia Lake
*Fitness Requirements: To complete the full walk, you need the ability to cover 9km with a mix of steady climbs and descents, some of which are steep. Some tracks are uneven and may be slippery.
*Distance/Time: 9km / 2.5-3 hrs
*Elevation Gain: 160m
*(Easy) Shorter Medium Option – Virginia Lake & Top Tracks: This follows the full walk—including the lake loop and top tracks—until you reach the Band Rotunda. From there, you will take a self-guided walk down the top tracks and return up Great North Road to the car park.
*Fitness Requirements: This shorter, medium-length option should still suit most fitness levels. It requires walking for 1 to 1.5 hours over a few hills, uneven terrain, and potentially slippery surfaces. Please note that choosing this option means walking back self-guided through Virginia Lake and along Great North Road for 800 metres (approximately 10 minutes).
*Distance/Time: 4.5km / 1-1.5 hrs
*Elevation Gain: 70m
*(Easy/Mod) Longer Medium Option - Lake, Top Tracks plus St Johns Hill Greenbelt Tracks: This route follows the full circuit around the lake and top tracks, before continuing onto the hillside tracks of the greenbelt. After climbing up from Peat Street, this route leaves the full walk and returns self-guided to Virginia Lake via Great North Road
*Fitness Requirements: To complete the longer medium-length option, you need the ability to cover 7km with a mix of steady climbs and descents, some of which are steep. Some tracks are uneven and may be slippery. Please note that choosing this route means walking back self-guided along Great North Road for 1 kilometre (approximately 15 minutes).
*Distance/Time: 6.5km / 1.5-2 hrs
*Elevation Gain: 140m
Links
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vz63MVWkZ49ZovZeA
Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/virginia-lake-st-johns-hill-walk-1123537
(You will need to set up a FREE account with AllTrails to see the interactive map)
Weather: https://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/regions/wanganui/locations/whanganui
Safety Disclaimer
By joining this walk, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own safety and well-being, and have the fitness to be able to complete the walk or the portion you intend to complete. The organisers and leaders will do their best to keep everyone safe, but they are not responsible for any injuries, accidents, or damages that may occur during this walk
Whanganui Walking Group
(River City Walking Group)
Website: whanganuiwalking.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhanganuiWalking
Contract: Willem Doodeman-Beamsley 027 899 2458
Email: [email protected]
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Virginia Lake Wanganui, Winter Gardens, St Johns Hill, Whanganui 4500, New Zealand, Wanganui
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherWhanganui Walking Group
