Karori Cemetery Tour - Karori Cemetery Tour - The Blog

google1a67322f69728823.html

FAREWELL TO KARORI CEMETERY TOUR

12/7/2020

Karori Cemetery Tour is no longer offering tours of the cemetery.

The good news, though, is that
Friends of Karori Cemetery
is now offering the same tours, on a regular schedule throughout the year. The Friends are also expanding the range and subject matter of tours, under the guidance and leadership of Barbara Mulligan.

To keep in touch with regular updates on the activities of the Friends, follow/like their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/friendsofkaroricemetery/

To enquire about membership of the Friends email
friendskaroricemetery@gmail.com

The Friends also have a website under development - if you become a member you will be advised when it is fully operational, and of course we'll also post on Facebook.

Thank you to everyone who has joined me on a Karori Cemetery Tour - it's been great fun, and I look forward to continuing to offer high quality and entertaining tours under the auspices of the Friends.
Barbara Mulligan
11 July 2020

CEMETERY STILL OPEN........

22/3/2020

Karori Cemetery is a great place to take yourself for a walk during these difficult times - there's 100 acres to explore, and lots of opportunities to keep your distance from other walkers. Cemetery tours have been put on hold for the meantime, but there will be regular posts on Facebook pages of both Karori Cemetery Tour and the Friends of Karori Cemetery to keep you entertained.

www.facebook.com/friendsofkaroricemetery/
www.facebook.com/karoricemeterywalk/

As of today, Monday 23 March, cemetery management has advised the following:
The Karori cemetery office is closed to the public from today until further notice to ensure the safety of both customers and the cemetery team due to the covid-19 risk. Please contact us via:
Phone: 04 4766 109
Email: cemeteries@wcc.govt.nz
Afterhours: WCC contact centre: 04 499 4444

NB The cemetery itself is open access, and is a great place for getting some fresh air while maintaining physical distance.

The Sexton's cottage. Sadly long gone and the site inside the main gates is now occupied by a brick office building.

TOURS SCHEDULE JAN & FEB 2020

7/1/2020

I am delighted to announce that Karori Cemetery Tour is now operating on behalf of the Friends of Karori Cemetery, a new group which is forming to work with the Wellington City Council to ensure the heritage, conservation and ecological values of Wellington's largest heritage site will be enhanced and promoted for all to enjoy. Tours will continue as usual but more guides will be introduced progressively, and the range of tour themes will expand over time. Payment for each tour will be maintained at $10 per person, and treated as a donation to the Friends until it has become a legally constituted incorporated society (scheduled to take effect on 1 April 2020). Tours will be available during January and February as per the following schedule:
JANUARY 2020
Saturday 11th 5.00pm Murder & Mayhem
Sunday 12th 10.30am Heroines & Housewives
Wednesday 15th 5.30pm Murder & Mayhem
Sunday 19th 10.30am Sailors & Shipwrecks
Monday 20th 10.30am Early Settlers (Wgtn Anniversary Day)
Wednesday 22nd 5.30pm Murder & Mayhem
Sunday 26th 10.30am Heroines & Housewives
Wednesday 29th 5.30pm Murder & Mayhem

FEBRUARY 2020
Wednesday 5th 5.30pm Murder & Mayhem
Saturday 8th 5.00pm Murder & Mayhem
Sunday 9th 10.30am Heroines & Housewives
Wednesday 12th 5.30pm Murder & Mayhem
Wednesday 19th 5.30pm Murder & Mayhem

Group tours available at other times by request

Booking Preferred
karoricemeterytour@gmail.com
or call me
021 0653 778

Cancellation: tours are weather dependent - those who book will be advised at least 1 hour in advance of start time

XMAS/NEW YEAR TOURS SCHEDULE - AMENDED

23/12/2019

A family funeral in Dunedin on Friday 27th has necessitated change to the schedule of tours:

Fri 27 December     5.00 - 6.30pm     Murder & Mayhem (CANCELLED)
Sat 28 December    10.3.0 - 12.00     Murder & Mayhem (CANCELLED)
Sat 28 December     5.00 - 6.30pm    Murder & Mayhem
Sun 29 December   10.3.0 - 12.00     Heroines & Housewives (includes Aunt Daisy)
Weds 1 January       5.00 - 6.30pm    Murder & Mayhem
Thurs 2 January      10.3.0 - 12.00     Murder & Mayhem
Sat 4 January           1.30 - 3.00         Heroines & Housewives
Sun 5 January         10.3.0 - 12.00     Murder & Mayhem

The weather forecast suggests conditions are going to be good (most of the time!) so do come along and learn more about Wellington's largest heritage site and NZ's second largest cemetery, as well as some of the interesting characters it contains.

XMAS/NEW YEAR TOURS SCHEDULE 2019/2020

19/12/2019

Crematorium Chapel

Good news everyone. There will be a programme of tours December 27 - January 5, including the ever-popular Murder and Mayhem tour. All regular tours will commence at the Crematorium Chapel, the charming brick building a short drive from the main gates which will be open every day. There is plenty of parking in the area. Tours will each last about 1.5 hours, and are easy walking. Cost is $10 per person, payable in cash at the start of the tour. Children under 12 are free. Good dogs, on leads, most welcome.
Please email karoricemeterytour@gmail.com to book your tour:

Fri 27 December     5.00 - 6.30pm     Murder & Mayhem
Sat 28 December    10.3.0 - 12.00     Murder & Mayhem
Sun 29 December   10.3.0 - 12.00     Heroines & Housewives (includes Aunt Daisy)
Weds 1 January       5.00 - 6.30pm    Murder & Mayhem
Thurs 2 January      10.3.0 - 12.00     Murder & Mayhem
Sat 4 January           1.30 - 3.00         Heroines & Housewives
Sun 5 January         10.3.0 - 12.00     Murder & Mayhem

On Tuesday 31 December there will be a special tour, commencing 10.30am, to commemorate 151 people who died at Tangiwai when a lahar from the crater lake on Mt Ruapehu swept down the Whangaehu River, destroying the rail bridge pier just as the Wellington-to-Auckland express passenger train No. 626 began to cross. The locomotive and first six carriages derailed into the river, and 151 people were killed. Many bodies were brought to Karori Cemetery for burial or cremation and a public service was held on 31 December, attended by Prince Phillip, church and other dignitaries as well as affected family members. There is a National Memorial in Karori Cemetery, at the head of 16 burial plots, and the Tangiwai Tour will start at the Memorial before visiting other plots for those who died, as well as the National Memorial to Peter Fraser. Other graves of note will be visited along the way, including Mrs Chippy the cat!

Please note the the meeting place for the Tangiwai Tour is at the Memorial, which is at the far end of the cemetery, approximately 1 kilometre from the main gates. The memorial can also be accessed via the gate at the bottom of Standen Street. There is plenty of parking space in the memorial area. There will be no charge for this tour, but a donation of $10 per person to Friends of Karori Cemetery would be appreciated.

Tangiwai Memorial

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY 2019 - MONDAY SPECIAL

29/5/2019

The weather forecast for the Queen's Birthday weekend indicates there will be a southerly storm on Saturday and Sunday, but Monday will be a beautiful post-storm day, a little warmer and with lots of sunshine, so perfect conditions for an outing in the cemetery, at either 10.30am, or 2.00pm for the all-time favourite tour
MURDER & MAYHEM
It will be wet underfoot but a pair of gumboots or other waterproof footwear will deal with the conditions.
$10 per person, 10 years & under free. Good dogs, on leads, welcome.

Make a Karori day of it and visit the Wrights Hill Fortress too - they're open from 10.00am till 4.00pm
http://wrightshillfortress.org.nz/open-days/

HEROINES & HOUSEWIVES, 10.30am- 12 noon, FRIDAY 8 MARCH & SATURDAY 9 MARCH

7/3/2019

POSTPONED: Friday tour re-scheduled for Saturday 9 March, at 10.30am (weather permitting), and to be repeated on Sunday 10 March at 10.30am (weather permitting).

To be sure of a place, and/or to be updated on the day, contact me on karoricemeterytour@gmail.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wonderful item in the Independent Herald today but please note the tour will set off from the Main Chapel, Rosehaugh Avenue at 10.30 am.

And because of demand there will be a repeat tour on Saturday 9 March, also starting at 10.30am.

To be sure of a place, contact me on karoricemeterytour@gmail.com

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY Friday 8 March 2019

4/3/2019

To celebrate International Women's Day 2019 there will be a walking tour on Friday 8 March. Included will be some of the interesting, noteworthy, and staunch women who have been interred at Karori Cemetery. We'll start with Maud Ruby BASHAM (Aunt Daisy), move on to artist Mina ARNDT, hear all about Annie Dowd who was instrumental in keeping her husband from the gallows, and Lily and Cybele KIRK who were campaigners for women's suffrage - and we'll visit a few other women of interest along the way.

The tour will start at 10.30 am and last for 1.5 hours. Terrain is easy but uneven underfoot, so stout walking shoes are recommended. Cost - $10 per person, payable in cash at the start.

Feel free to bring your good dog (on a lead) and meet at the Main Chapel, Rosehaugh Avenue just before
10.30 am.

Bookings preferable but not essential - karoricemeterytour@gmail.com

Aunt Daisy in 1959

WELLINGTON ANNIVERSARY MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2019

19/1/2019

To celebrate the settlement of Wellington by the New Zealand Company in 1840 we have an Anniversary Day each January, with a public holiday on Monday. This year the holiday falls on Monday 21 January, and to acknowledge the day Karori Cemetery Tour is running special EARLY WELLINGTON SETTLERS tours at 10.30am and 1.30pm. Put on your walking shoes, clip the dog onto its lead, and come along to meet some of the characters who helped to build our city into the best wee capital in the world. Duration 1.5 hours, easy walking, bring sunblock or a sun hat and some water to drink - the forecast suggests it will be a warm sunny day. Meet at the Main Chapel, Rosehaugh Avenue. Cost $10 per person, children under 10 free. Bookings helpful - karoricemeterytour@gmail.com or call me on 021 0653 778

SUMMER 2019

15/1/2019

The full programme of tours is available throughout the summer months - see the programme here. The tour programme can be changed if there's a particular themed tour you want to do and it's not available at the time that suits you - give me a call (021 065 3778) or send me an email (karoricemeterytour@gmail.com) and we'll see what can be done.
Tours cost $10 per person, paid in cash at the start of the tour.