The Italian Renaissance “Destination Garden” in the Hamilton Gardens
This event has SOLD OUT for Sunday 28 July 2024. Please contact us to go on the waiting list or to reserve your place on the next e-bike/tai chi outing/event. https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/contact-us/
Ever wish you could take time just for you to savour something new that will refresh your mind and rejuvenate your body? Definitely, and the wait is over.
Here’s your chance to treat yourself with a very special, fully-escorted, 1-day outing with gentle e-bike cycling and tai chi, and the opportunity to connect with nature in the peaceful beauty of Hamilton Gardens.
Date: Sunday 28 July, 8.45am to 5pm (This event was scheduled for Sun 21 July, but was postponed to the 28th due to rain)
All provided: E-bike and helmet hire, a tranquil tai chi lesson, and return transport to Hamilton Gardens from Auckland.
This fully-escorted event is for you if you’d love to experience the following:
Wellbeing on wheels: Te Awa, The Great New Zealand River Ride: You’ll gently pedal the remarkable Te Awa Trail on an e-bike. You’ll be gliding beside the majestic Waikato River for most of this 2-hour ride between Ngāruawāhia and the world-class Hamilton Gardens. There’ll be plenty of time for photos and to just soak in the scenery, while enjoying the quiet power of your e-bike as it softly purrs along this dedicated cycleway.
Tranquil tai chi: In the afternoon, you’re in for another treat in the serene and private Camellia Garden (within Hamilton Gardens). You’ll learn the flowing movements of tai chi from Jocelyn of Kia Ora Tai Chi. This ancient, restorative practice from China, which is gentle on joints, will re-energise you and nourish your own internal river of life – your mauri, your life force. Perfect for beginners.
The opportunity to nurture yourself in nature and to feed your soul: After tai chi, you could further uplift your wairua (your soul/spiritual wellbeing) with your own mindful walk to connect with te taiao (nature) in the wider garden area. Alternatively, you could explore a couple of the amazing and inspiring ‘destination’ gardens, where you might feel you have time-travelled to Renaissance-era Italy, or ancient Egypt, or to modernist, mid 20th-Century Californian Cool.
Our tranquil tai chi session will be held in the circle of peace in the secluded camellia garden (within Hamilton Gardens)
This event will start and finish at: Electrify NZ Botany – New Zealand’s e-bike specialists. Address: 12b Amera Place, Botany Downs, Auckland 2013
What you need to bring/wear:
- Suitable, warm clothing and shoes for cycling in cooler weather, including gloves.
- Waterproof jacket/coat and, if you have them, waterproof leggings.
- A change of clothes in case we get an unexpected rain shower while cycling (these can be transported for you in the shuttle bus from Auckland).
- Bring your own lunch, snacks and a filled water bottle.
Open to anyone aged 18+ who knows how to ride a bike. Places limited to 10 people.
Sponsors: This event is proudly sponsored by River Riders, Electrify NZ Botany and Jocelyn Watkin of Kia Ora Tai Chi as a fundraiser for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand during Mindfulness Month in July 2024.
Price: A donation/koha of $65 (or more) per person to the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (please check the arrangements to pay this, which are detailed further below).
If you want to meet new friends, re-energise your body, reset your mind and renew your spirit then this event is for you.
RSVP/Reserving your place: Please note that this event has now SOLD OUT. Places are limited to just 10 people and we expect these will sell out quickly. Before you make your donation, please first RSVP and confirm your booking with Jocelyn using the contact form on the Kia Ora Tai Chi website or click on https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/contact-us/
Programme for Sunday 28 July
- 8.50am: Arrive at Electrify NZ Botany. Address: 12b Amera Place, Botany Downs, Auckland 2013. Plenty of free parking available.
- Just after 9am, your journey to the Waikato will begin with a comfortable shuttle ride to Ngāruawāhia. Once there, you’ll receive your helmet, e-bike and a full safety induction.
- Wellbeing on wheels: At around 11am, you’ll set off on your e-bike on the remarkable Te Awa Trail. This will be fully escorted. On arrival at the River Riders base in the world-class Hamilton Gardens, you’ll be able to rest and eat your BYO lunch.
- Tranquil tai chi: After lunch, you’re in for another treat with a tai chi lesson in the serene and private Camellia Garden.
- Nurture yourself in nature – food for your soul. After tai chi, there’ll be free time for your own mindful walk in nature or to go exploring in a couple of the diverse and inspiring destination gardens (also called walled gardens) within Hamilton Gardens.
- Return to Auckland. Just after 3pm, everyone gathers at the River Riders base in Hamilton Gardens for departure in the comfortable shuttle bus back to Auckland. You’ll arrive at Electrify NZ Botany at approximately 5pm.
River Riders base at the Hamilton Gardens
Koha/donation
This outing/event is a fundraiser for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (the Foundation) during Mindfulness Month in July 2024. Participants will need to make a donation/koha to take part in this event.
The e-bike and helmet hire cost, transport and tai chi lesson are sponsored by River Riders, Electrify NZ Botany and Jocelyn Watkin of Kia Ora Tai Chi. In addition to your koha, the only other cost is $10 for insurance on the e-bike hire. This is payable on the day of the ride.
To ensure that 100% of your donation will go directly to the Mental Health Foundation of NZ, the sponsors are also generously donating their own and their staff’s time for this event.
The ticket price of a 1-day event like this would be around $150 per person. As such, to participate in this event, you are invited to donate at least $65 per person to the Foundation.
How to make your donation
Places are limited to just 10 people. We expect these will sell out quickly, so your first step will be to contact Jocelyn of Kia Ora Tai Chi to ensure there is a place available for you. r,
Jocelyn will confirm your place and provide you with a unique payment link so you can arrange your donation/koha to the Mental Health Foundation of NZ. You will need to make a partial donation of around $30 to reserve your place. Please note that this amount is not refundable as it is paid directly to the Foundation through the unique payment link.
The rest of your donation can be made at any time up until the 27th July. You have the option to wait until the weather forecast is known for the 28th July. If the event is postponed due to the weather, we hope we can reschedule for a later date.
There is a limit of two people per booking. The recommended donation remains as per person.
Postponement/Cancellation
- Early indication: On the evening of Friday 26 July and based on the weather forecast at that time, participants will be advised of the likelihood of going ahead on 28 July.
- By 8pm on Saturday 27 July: The postponement decision will be made if rainy or inclement weather is forecast. Participants will all be advised by 8pm. If we do have to postpone, we hope to reschedule this event at another date. If you are already registered, you will be given first option to attend on the rescheduled date.
Refund policy
Participants will make their donation/koha directly to the Mental Health Foundation of NZ foundation through a special payment link that will be provided to them by Jocelyn. As advised, once this donation is made to the Foundation, it can’t be credited or refunded.
To help smooth the donation payment process, your koha can be made in 2-steps: a partial koha when you register for the event and then the balance donated no later than 27th July and once the weather forecast is known.
To RSVP, or if you have questions, please use the contact form on the website: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/contact-us/