Students from Freyberg Community School had the chance to explore their local environment from a new perspective this May, taking part in two special “Bike the Whau Pathway Days”.
Held on 5 May and 11 May, the events gave Year 6 students the opportunity to experience the newly opened Te AtatΕ« South boardwalks β part of Te Whau Pathway and just a five-minute walk from their school. Around 30 students attended each day, spending the morning biking the pathway and learning about the wildlife that calls the Whau River home.
The programme was designed to help students connect with Te Wai o te Whau, understand how active transport can benefit both people and the environment, and encourage a sense of kaitiakitanga for their local area.
After a welcome, safety briefing and bike skills session at school, students walked to Horowai | Roberts Field where they split into groups. One group explored the pathway by bike while the other joined a bird-watching activity, before swapping over after morning tea.
The biking activities were led by Auckland Council Outdoor Experience, who brought a trailer loaded with bikes and helmets for students to use throughout the day.
“We were excited to be part of this experience with the students from Freyberg Community School on this new pathway,” said Outdoor Experience instructor Jude Harris.
The rides gave many students the chance to experience the new boardwalks for the first time. The wide, smooth pathway provided a safe environment for students to build confidence on bikes while enjoying spectacular views across the upper Whau estuary.
Maria Dopheide, Principal of Freyberg Community School, said “It was fantastic to see our students out on the new Whau Pathway, building confidence on their bikes and connecting with the wider community.”
Alongside the biking sessions, students learned about local birdlife and the important role healthy waterways and wetlands play in supporting native species. The activities encouraged students to look more closely at the environment around them and consider how people can help protect it.
With Te Whau Pathway now connecting Te AtatΕ« South to the Northwestern Cycleway, local schools are uniquely placed to make use of this growing community asset. For Freyberg Community School, the pathway is quite literally on their doorstep.
The Bike the Whau events demonstrated how the pathway is becoming much more than a walking and cycling route. It is also an outdoor classroom, a place for recreation, and a way for young people to connect with their local environment.
A big thank you to Freyberg Community School, Auckland Council Outdoor Experience, and all the staff who helped make the two days possible.
Photo gallery
From 5th and 11th of May.
