Te Ara o Tipapa (Wetland Loop)

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Visual: The video begins with a satellite map of the Wellington region. It zooms in on Kāpiti Coast (north of the city) where Te Ara o Tipapa (Wetland Loop) is located. Text on the right half of the screen reads: Greater Wellington Regional Parks, Queen Elizabeth Park. Te Ara o Tipapa Wetland Loop.

Audio: Hey team, welcome to Queen Elizabeth Park. I’m Gary, I’m one of the park rangers and I’m here to show you around, so um let’s go do that.

Visual: Gary is shown speaking directly to the camera, near a US Marines Memorial sign beside the trail. Text on screen: Gary Wheaton, Mobile Ranger - Western.

Audio: So today I’m going to take you around Te Ara o Tipapa. It’s one of our wetland tracks that goes up through a remnant forest and then loops right back around to where the ranger’s office is.

Visual: Aerial view of the trail showing the wetland/pond from above. The camera returns to Gary, who is using hand gestures while talking about the trail. 

Audio: We start off here at the Marines Memorial and there is car parking right next to it. So, the track’s 2.1 kilometres long and takes about 30 to 50 minutes depending on your fitness, or however long you want to walk it.

Visual: Gary points at the US Marines Memorial sign. The camera cuts to Gary standing next to the gated trail entry for the wetland loop. There is a directional sign for two trails: Yankee Trail to Paekākāriki (2.7km, 45 minutes) and Te Ara o Tipapa Wetland Loop (2.1km 50 minutes).

Audio: Now there are no dogs allowed on this track because it’s a wetland and it’s full of bird life.

Visual: The camera zooms in on a ‘no dogs, in farmlands or wetlands’ sign.

Audio: Oh and make sure you close the gates.

Visual: Gary walks through the gate, and demonstrates how to lock it.

Audio: So this is a loop track. You make your way through the wetland from the Marines Memorial, you’ll go through the remnant forest, up over the ridge and you come out through the rangers office, and then back to where you started. Couldn’t be easier.

Visual: Gary is standing next to a pond on the trail. A satellite image of the trail appears, with a dashed yellow line tracing the route of the trail. 

Audio: So the track through here from the Marines Memorial right through to the bird hide is wheelchair friendly. From here around it is buggy-friendly and a good walking track.

Visual: Gary walks inside a bird hide (a metal box shaped shelter). The video switches to Gary inside the bird hide, peering out through a small opening. Overlay text on the right of the screen: 

• The first section is wheelchair accessible
• Full loop track is suitable for buggies
• Easy gradient
• Low level of fitness required.

Audio: So one of my absolute favourite parts of this track is the remnant bush, which is just around the corner.

Visual: Gary walks on the trail, surrounded by flax bushes. The camera cuts to a close up of Gary standing on a bridge that spans a small body of water.

Audio: It’s got one of the last large stands of kahikatea trees in it, which are just absolutely beautiful, and it’s a really quiet peaceful place to walk through.

Visual: Aerial view flying over a kahikatea tree forest in the remnant bush. Three people walking through dense native bush.

Audio: So some of the birds you’ll expect to see here are tūī, fantails, grey warblers, dab chicks, and heaps of others. 

Visual: The three people stand on the edge of the pond and point birds in the water.

Audio: So although this is a really easy walk, it’s always a good idea to bring boots or walking shoes, extra layers, sunscreen, sun hat, and don’t forget the water because you know what our weather’s like.

Visual: The three people walk through the trail. The text on the screen lists the gear to bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Suitable clothes for the weather
• Sunscreen
• Drinking water

Audio: “Yeah mum I’ll call you back”. Cell phone coverage is great throughout the park.

Visual: Gary, stand next to the pond, picking up the cellphone and answering a call. The text next to them reads cellphone cover: good.

Audio: So Queen Elizabeth Park until very recently was a farm. And farming is finished now, we’ve taken all the animals off, and we are basically returning it to this.

Visual: Gary leans on a tree while talking to the camera, followed by an aerial view of the trail. 

Audio: So getting to QEP couldn’t be easier, straight down transmission Gully, off at Mackay’s Crossing entrance, and that brings you right to our doorstep.

Visual: A satellite image with a white dashed line marking the route to Queen Elizabeth Park.

Audio: There’s also an entrance at Raumati. So along State Highway 1, off at Poplar Ave, head down to the end of Raumati Esplanade, and there’s car parking there.

Visual: Gary stands next to train tracks, pointing at a train as it goes past.

Audio: And the third major entrance to QEP is at Paekākāriki, which is at the end of Wellington Road. So you can catch the train to Paekākāriki, as you can see. From there you can walk or cycle to the park, which isn’t that far.

Visual: An aerial view of the trail pans on screen, overlaid with the Greater Wellington Regional Council logo and the text ‘Find out more at gw.govt.nz/parks’.

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