North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club is holding its first guided walks day in half a decade in the Herbert Forest later this month.
They have historically held these guided walks every two years but the Covid pandemic delayed them further.
The goal is to help people get out and enjoy the great outdoors, North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club committee member John Chetwin said.
"They will have a chance to see this unique forest, native forest in this part of New Zealand.
"We’ll show them around and introduce them to tramping and hopefully outdoor recreation that they might enjoy as they go on."
The club has 55 active members and does a range of outdoor activities such as tramping, mountain climbing and mountainbike riding.
They make use of the scenery in the Waitaki as well as heading inland to Lake Ohau and Arthur’s Pass occasionally.
The North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club was also in charge of maintaining the tracks and was very proud of its efforts, Mr Chetwin said.
"We’ve worked on these tracks for the best part of 20 years with the owners of the forrest, Port Blakely.
"We do the work and they provide the materials and resources and we think it’s a great facility that more people should see and enjoy."
Part of that work has been trapping predators.
"There are over 50 traps which are serviced by members of the club.
"I think those who come in here [for the guided walks day] will experience the benefits of that in terms of the bird song that you can hear," Mr Chetwin said.
The only requirements for the guided walks day were being able to walk for an hour on uneven ground and bringing a pair shoes or boots with good grip.
