Wellington Training Weekend

11th – 12th February 2012

Rimutaka Forest Park

Online entries have now closed, please call Oxfam on 0800 OxfamNZ if you want to make a late entry.

The Event

Thanks to the event organisers of the Xterra Wellington Series, you now have 38km of pristine trails to train on. Handpicked to match the elevation and terrain of the Oxfam Trailwalker, this event has been designed to mimic the real thing.

Located in Rimutaka Forest Park, just 30 minutes drive from Wellington’s CBD you don’t want to miss this fantastic opportunity to train and pick the
brains of the Oxfam staff on site.

Weekend Schedule

Saturday

1.00pm Event Base is operational

Oxfam staff onsite ready to answer your questions
Registration opens
Set up your campsites

2.00pm Free podiatrist begins

3.00pm           First Oxfam Trailwalker workshop and training weekend course
                         safety briefing. Each workshop and training weekend course
                         safety briefing is a repeat. You only need to attend one session.

4.00pm Butchers Loop Course opens (9km)

4.50pm Registration closes

5.00pm Second Oxfam Trailwalker workshop and training weekend
course safety briefing

6:30pm BBQ available for teams wishing to use it

6:45pm Support Crew Workshop

7:30pm Entry to Butchers Loop closes (9km)

8:31pm Sunset

9.00pm Final start time for Nature Trail (7km)

11.00pm All courses closed.

11:30pm Gates to forest locked. Anyone wishing to leave event base
must do so before this time.

Teams can start the Butchers Loops course anytime between 4:00pm and 7.30pm but you MUST attend a workshop prior to your departure.

The aim is that your team can select your start time depending on what pace you are looking to set and how much time you are looking to spend in the dark. Please note head torches are required for this night walk.

Teams aiming to complete OTW using the full 36 hours will need to start as close to 4.00pm as possible to ensure they are finished prior to course cut off.

Teams intending to complete the Oxfam Trailwalker in 12-15 hours can set off at dusk. The latest possible start time is 7:30pm. To be setting off at this time you need to be confident that your team can complete the 16.0km (in the dark) in less than 3.5 hours.

All participants should carry their head torch regardless of what time they set off – it gets dark quickly, don’t be caught out at dusk without one.

Sunday

6:00am Gates to forest unlocked for those not staying at event base

6:30am Registration opens

6:40am Sunrise

7.00am Compulsory day two course safety briefing for all walkers

7.10am            Event start time for all teams (note this time is not flexible
                          like Saturday). Orongorongo Loop Course (15km) and
                          Nature Trail (7km) opens

3.00pm All courses closed

All teams must attend the course briefing at 7:00am and depart at 7:10am. Sunday is not a flexible start time like Saturday. Late starters will not be allowed on course.

The Course

The Oxfam Trailwalker Training Weekend consists of three loop courses designed to test you and your team’s fitness. They include some beautiful bush trails in stunning native forest and some spectacular views over Wellington and its harbour. Trails are easy to follow and courses will be clearly marked. Trails will be completed in the sequence below. Each trail starts and finishes at event base so teams will be able to meet with support crew for snacks, sock changes and encouragement.

We recommend that you download and carry a copy of these course maps and if really keen then purchase and carry a copy of New Zealand Topographical Map Topo50 BQ32. These maps will help you have an idea of where you are going and assist you in the unlikely event that you stray off course. It’s also fun to see exactly where you are in the New Zealand countryside!

Course Safety

While marshals will be out on the course, we still require all participants and teams to be self-sufficient and treat the marshals as a back up option.

Please note there will be no aid stations on the course. We recommend that everyone is well hydrated before taking part in this event and that you carefully plan your water quantities for each loop. It would be a good idea to take a hydration pack.

Saturday Afternoon and Evening:                            Butchers Loop 9km
                                                                                            Nature Trail 7km

16km

Sunday Morning and Afternoon:                      Orongorongo Loop 15km
                                                                                              Nature Trail 7km

22km

Weekend Total 38km
Butchers Loop – 9km

A challenging climb up well-formed forestry roads starts this loop. Stunning views over Wellington Harbour are worth a pause at the top, followed by a descent down a well-established forest trail named Butchers Track. Back to the event base via open fields. This loop includes an ankle deep river crossing at the end. Removing of shoes/boots to keep gear dry is an option for this crossing (note there are no river crossings during the Oxfam Trailwalker).

See here for course map and profile

Nature Trail – 7km

Easy loop over well-established forest tracks, open fields and access road, walked in a clockwise direction from the event base. A couple of smaller climbs of short duration totalling 120m (almost an exact match to leg 7 from the actual Oxfam Trailwalker); this loop includes an ankle deep river crossing at the end. Removing of shoes/boots to keep gear dry is an option for this crossing (note there are no river crossings during Oxfam Trailwalker).

See here for course map and profile

Orongorongo Loop – 15km

A challenging climb up well-formed forestry roads starts this loop, followed by a great walk along Cattle Ridge’s well-formed track. The descent from cattle ridge onto the Orongorono track can be technical in places and teams will need to take their time in this part of the track. The Orongorongo Track for the return journey is well-formed and has a gradual incline, with 5 Mile Loop and the Nature Trail throwing in a couple of short climbs on the way back to the event base. Total elevation on this final course is 410m – just under half the total metres climbed during the entire Oxfam Trailwalker. This course is steeper than anything in the Oxfam Trailwalker so when you finish then you know you are in a good position to tackle the event in April.

See here for course map and profile

Gear

Everything about training weekend should mimic your plan for the event. This includes wearing and carrying the gear you intend to use. See below for some basic gear advice or check out our gear checklist page for a more comprehensive list.

Recommended Saturday gear to carry:

basic first aid kit
whistle and or cell phone (please note, mobile phone reception is limited)
hydration pack/drink bottle with fluid
working head torch / lamp
spare batteries for head torch / lamp
baselayer clothing and wet weather protection

Recommended Sunday gear to carry:

basic first aid kit,
whistle and or cell phone
camelbak with fluid - food for the day
baselayer clothing and wet weather protection

Camping Information

Oxfam Trailwalker teams intending on walking on both Saturday and Sunday are encouraged to camp at event base.

On your registration form please confirm your camping numbers so we have an indication of how many tents and individuals to expect on site.

Camping Fee

Whilst Oxfam provides this training weekend to you free of charge there is a small cost associated with camping in a DOC managed site. It typically costs $10 per person to camp in a DOC area however due to the nature of this event DOC have kindly reduced their camping fees to $5 per person (this will be calculated as a team from your entry form camping numbers). Your camping fee will be collected from your team when you register on Saturday. Strictly cash only.

The Oxfam events team and event organisers will be camping on site so come and join us! We will have a BBQ available for support crews to use if you are after a hot dinner. Please note the DOC hut facilities (kitchen and lounge) at the event base will not be available for participant or support crew use (you will not have these luxuries at the Oxfam Trailwalker!)

For those not wishing to camp the night at the event base we highly recommend you stay close by as it is a 7am start on Sunday morning. Please note this start time is non negotiable like Saturday was. Late comers will not be permitted to start the event.

Driving Directions

From Wellington or the Hutt: Head over the Wainuiomata Hill and into Wainui. Look out for the Rimutaka Forest Park Road signs and follow them. Follow the narrow country road out of Wainui for 10 to 15 minutes (past the cemetery and tip on your left and golf course on your right) and take a left turn into the Rimutaka Forest Park. Follow the road until you see the Xterra Trail Running signs. Event base is by the visitor centre/hall about 500m after turning off the main road, on the left-hand side of the road up to the terminal car park. Click below for a Google map.

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