EASTER 2025
Welcome to
The methven walking festival
Our 2025 Methven & Foothills Walking Festival has a selection of our popular walks as well as some new walks.
This year the annual Methven Scarecrow Trail coincides with our festival.
Back again for the third year are the Easter Egg Hunt at Awa Awa Rata Reserve, and the popular Family Fun Day at the Enchanted Forest, where everyone gets to meet a fairy or two. Our Starlight Walk is a fun evening walk for the whole family through the Enchanted Forest.
History buffs will enjoy a longer Railway tour this year, learning the history of the area. New for 2025 is the History with a Mystery booklet which will take you on a walk around Methven, all while solving cryptic questions.
Our walks in the foothills include the one day Woolshed Creek hike, the Sharplin Falls track and new for this year, a hike with your dogs around Lake Emma and a walk along the old skifield road to Mt Hutt.
You can keep up to date by following our facebook page.
Please note that if you prefer to just explore at your own pace; the Methven Walkway, Piwakawaka Walk and the Enchanted Forest are free and open every day for all to enjoy.
You can view our calendar of events here and registrations open March 1. Events will be weather dependent and some may have limited numbers. For more information see our FAQs or email us for more information.
We hope that people will get out and about in the fresh country air and discover our amazing walks in the Methven & Foothills area.
Make Methven your destination to relax and recharge.
Methven Scarecrow Trail
Methven Scarecrow Trail
The Scarecrow Trail runs every day during the April School Holidays. Find and identify over 30 scarecrow characters and be in to win prizes for the most correct answers.
History with Mystery Walk
History with Mystery Walk
A fun new adventure for the whole family, On the Eve of 2025 Methven & Foothills Walking Festival a new walk with a puzzle to be solved will be released. You can pick up the History with Mystery walk booklet for $10 from the Methven ihub.
Old Ski Field Walk
Old Ski Field Walk
Starting at the Rakaia Saddle car park we will walk a circuit up over the abandoned original skifield road, down through the skifield basin, returning to the car via the current skifield road.
Woolshed Creek Hut Walk
Woolshed Creek Hut Walk
A day in the Canterbury High Country with a walk to a hut, a yarn, some history and good views. Numbers limited to 10. A reasonable level of fitness is required for this 5 hour walk.
Enchanted Forest Starlight Walk
Enchanted Forest Starlight Walk
Join us for an extra special night stroll through the Enchanted Forest walk along the Methven walkway which will be lit up for a starlight adventure.
Railway Historic Walk
Railway Historic Walk
Meet at the Methven Museum on Main Street and come on a 3km (1 ½ hour) walk around what was the terminus for the Methven Railway, a branch line from Rakaia, which operated 1880-1976.
Easter Egg Hunt
Easter Egg Hunt
A fun few hours walking the tracks at the beautiful Awa Awa Rata Reserve to find cards you can exchange for Easter Eggs!
Family Day at the Enchanted Forest
Family Day at the Enchanted Forest
Our most popular walk is back. Join your favourite fairies, and of course the troll under the bridge for a fun family day out. Please come along dressed up and enjoy the different activities along the walk.
Sharplin Falls Walk
Sharplin Falls Walk
An easyish two hour return walk through through mountain beech forest/tawhairauriki alongside Bowyers Stream to Sharplin Falls. Self transport to meet at the Staveley Cafe.
Lake Emma Dog Walk
Lake Emma Dog Walk
Join us on a walk around Lake Emma to the hut with your pooch. This is a 7km round trip following a farm track around the lake. Please keep your dog on a leash. Bring water for you and your dog, your lunch, poo bags and suitable footwear and clothing.
All 2025 Walking Festival events are held over Easter which falls in April this year.
Please scroll to the month of April in this calendar to view events by the day.
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