Celebrate Mother's Day at the Whareroa Farm Orienteering Event on Sunday 10 May 2026. The event features six courses - White, Yellow, Orange, and three Red options - that travel through native bush and farm land with views to Kapiti Island.

You'll enjoy some great scenery and birdsong. Heads up, you will get wet feet as all courses involve crossing the stream. So bring a spare pair of socks n crocs (or shoes) to change into.

Some handy notes

• No dogs allowed in Whareroa Farm
• All parking is at Queen Elizabeth Park, along Whareroa Road, then walk across to Whareroa Farm.
• Please do not let children walk unaccompanied from Queen Elizabeth Park to Whareroa as you cross the slip road from Highway 1.
• The toilets at the Farm Park are closed, use the facilities across the highway at Queen Elizabeth Park.
• Starts are from 11 am to 1 pm. Course closure is at 2.30 pm.
• Full leg cover is recommended. Interfacing with gorse is not compulsory, but it does no harm to be prepared.

Entry details

Pricing

Details here: https://www.wellingtonorienteering.org.nz/results/event-pricing

Pre-entry

Entries will be at: https://entries.wellingtonorienteering.org.nz/

Pre-entries close the day before the event at 23:59.

Enter on the day:

Pre-entries are preferred but entries on the day are available.

Helpers

Helpers are needed to make the event run smoothly. A helper sign-up form is available here.

Event Style

College Sport Wellington & Public Event (and OY series)

These events are traditional orienteering events held in parks around the greater Wellington region on Sundays with starts from 11 am – 1 pm. These events provide an opportunity for students new to orienteering to experience non-urban events and learn how to orienteer, while providing a challenge to experienced orienteers.

Event terrain

Farm Park - some areas of detailed track network, open farmland, gorse maze, native forest areas. Whareroa is hilly terrain, but for the shorter courses we have limited the climb where possible.

Courses/Classes

All courses are available to adults or children not part of the CSW series. The "Classes" table below is for those who are competing in CSW.

The length of the course listed below are as the crow flies. The shortest sensible route is due to the nature of the area much longer, in some cases up to 75% longer. 15 min/km of the listed length is not an unreasonable expected km rate for the winners of the orange and red courses.

Parking and directions

You must park in Queen Elizabeth Park near the tramway, visitor centre and toilets and walk over (accompanying children) to Whareroa.

Safety

Safety bearing

Head downhill towards the main Farm Race track and west (towards the sea) and event centre.

Specific Hazards and Notes:

• Getting from the car parking to the event centre involves crossing roads. Children (or young adults who are not reliable in traffic) must be accompanied to the event centre.
• Steep, slippery, and uneven terrain. Orienteering / trail running shoes are required for the longer courses.
• Expect spiky undergrowth. Full leg cover is strongly recommended for orange and red courses.
• There are mountain bike tracks in the park. Watch out for cyclists.

Event officials

Planners: Mike and Kath OConnor

Controller: Neil Kane