By Justin Atkinson, 17 May 2026
Enid Blyton's book series The Famous Five involves four kids and their dog going on (mis)adventures. 21 books were published between 1942 and 1963. Despite their age, it turns out their central premise is timeless.
At the end of a tiring day trip on the Kāpiti coast, adventurous VUWTC trampers hopped on the train expecting a quiet journey home. That was not to be. At Pukerua bay station a group of 5 youth got on. They were noisy but kept to themselves. Unknown to us, a high stakes chase was taking place outside the carriages. The Eagle helicopter was in pursuit!
We arrived at Plimmerton station and found the Police everywhere. They boarded the train and arrested the noisy kids. They were certainly the (in)Famous Five, as apparently they had harassed members of the public at Paraparaumu and made a hasty getaway. Here's hoping they learnt a lesson here. For you readers, a reminder that getting up to mild disrepute is required of all VUWTC members by our Constitution, but that does not include public harassment.
We found ourselves in this situation after walking part of the Escarpment track, a well-traversed 8km walk located on the Kāpiti coast. Stretching from Pukerua Bay to Paekākāriki it features great views, dizzying stairs that can cause vertigo, and swingbridges aplenty. It takes 3-4 hours for most people to walk.
Enter the Te Araroa Wellington Trust. Part of a national charity, they look after the Welly section of the 3000km Te Araroa trail running from Cape Reinga to Bluff. They undertake important track maintenance, conservation work, and advocacy to ensure the track remains in excellent shape for future users.
The Escarpment hosted a TAWT x VUWTC collab. We helped to carry track sign materials between two sets of coordinates. These signs include safety information and details of the area's history. We met at the rendezvous point, and were greeted by heavy wooden planks and concrete bags. Hoisting these materials to the installation points was no easy feat, but it was a workout for sure. It was a stunning sunny day, so our moods were high.
Next time you're hiking the Escarpment, keep an eye out for the new information signs. VUWTC hands were partially responsible for getting them there, and shoutout to TAWT for their awesome mahi!
