The Upper Clutha’s first ‘StoryWalk’ has been installed next to the new Luggate playground.

StoryWalks create outdoor literacy experiences for children by mounting pages of illustrated children’s books in a large format along a walking route or area frequented by children.

The Luggate playground now features a StoryWalk of The Little Yellow Digger Finds Treasure by Betty Gilderdale, which was installed just in time for the playground’s recent opening.

It’s the second StoryWalk for Queenstown Lakes and the first for the Wānaka ward, and part of a project series that has been in the making for a while, QLDC community engagement librarian Paula Mitchell told the Wānaka App.

“It’s an idea our libraries have had for a long time, after catching wind of similar projects overseas,” she said.

StoryWalks have existed for a long time but the international initiative became especially popular during Covid-19.

Their unique set-up allows children to enjoy reading with their families and friends while being in the outdoors and it extends libraries’ reach beyond their physical walls, connecting to the community and contributing a host of wellbeing benefits, Paula said.

She said the author for the Luggate project was selected on the basis of requests and feedback from the community.

“The [QLDC] Libraries team tries to match up the stories with what kids like,” she said.

“We try to use New Zealand authors and are lucky enough to partner with Scholastic who provide permission to use the stories in this way.”

The QLDC Libraries team also tries to focus on New Zealand authors, Paula said.

Queenstown Lakes’ other StoryWalk is located at the Hanley’s Farm development near Queenstown and there is also a mobile ‘pop-up’ version that travels to parks and playgrounds around the district, Paula said.

The bulk of the cost of the Luggate StoryWalk was covered by Te Hau Toka – Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group with additional support from Bunnings Warehouse Queenstown and Mitre 10 Mega Wānaka.

Paula said the libraries team doesn’t have any more StoryWalks in the works “but we’d love to inspire the community to set up their own”. 

“We now have a blueprint to create them along with the connections with publishers and authors,” she said.

Anyone wanting to create a StoryWalk can get in touch with Paula Mitchell via the Wānaka Library.

PHOTO: Wānaka App