Bay of Plenty has some of the best walking tracks and trails in the country and Sport Bay of Plenty are encouraging people with disabilities to use them.

Sport Bay of Plenty and the Department of Conservation have teamed with the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation to encourage the access of the walkways, cycle ways and waterways to physically disabled people.

Volunteers Scott Jones and Gareth Yates with surfer Janette Barclay on the beach chair. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Halberg Disability Sport Foundation disability sport adviser Cherryl Thompson says Mount Maunganui has access along the coast of Pilot Bay and Mount Beach via a boardwalk, making the traverse accessible to everyone.

This is known as Global Design – a feature that works for everyone – without being highlighted as specific to one group.

'Even the fact of the contrast of light and dark between the timber and grass – or the sound of walking on timber, makes the boardwalk better for visually impaired people, without taking anything away from sighted people.”

Cherryl says there are so many pieces of different equipment available now to assist physically disabled people to take part in sport and recreational facilities.

'Last summer, Halberg Disability Sport Foundation and The Flight Centre Foundation provided a beach chair at Mount Maunganui Beach, which allowed access to the beach, for a roll along the sand or a swim in the tide.”

This chair will also be used on Pilot Bay by East Coast Paddlers to assist people to the water for seated or assisted stand up paddle boarding and waka ama. An adapted seat for waka ama is also used in rowing, kayaking and sailing.

Rotorua already runs disabled sailing from Rotorua Yacht club and BOPSAT of Tauranga Yacht Club is meeting this week to discuss Sailability in Tauranga.

'We live in a country of adventures. Where you want to explore is up to you. How you get there is part of the adventure.

'Aotearoa is a coastal bushland dotted by rivers and lakes, entwined by tracks and trails, all waiting to be run, walked, rolled or glided upon.”

There are various types of cycles, trikes and attachments e.g. freedom wheel, to access rides and cycleways around the Bay. Many students in schools have participated in the school bike ride or duathlon and then gone on to a triathlon.