How to start a walking group in your neighbourhood

Three neighbours in Fairy Meadow posted a notice at the local library on 2 July and held their first group walk four days later along the coastal path at Stuart Park.

Interest in shared exercise has risen this year as residents seek low-cost ways to stay active near home rather than travel to distant gyms or paid classes. The trend aligns with broader community fitness efforts that use existing trails instead of new facilities.

Pick routes near known landmarks

Start with flat or gentle paths that people already know. Routes around Stuart Park offer ocean views and benches for rest stops. Walks that begin at the Nan Tien Temple car park give access to the lower sections of the Illawarra Escarpment without steep climbs at the outset. Groups can meet at either spot on the same weekday morning to keep attendance steady.

Limit the first month to two walks a week so members can test the pace. One session can stay on the flat Stuart Park loop while the second explores the temple grounds and returns via the shared path along Crown Street.

Set simple rules and spread the word

Decide on a start time, a maximum group size of twelve and a contact method such as a shared phone list. No fees are needed at the beginning. A 2025 report from Wollongong City Council showed that free neighbourhood groups attracted 1,200 new participants across the local government area in the previous twelve months.

Print a one-page flyer with the meeting place and time, then leave copies at the Nan Tien Temple visitor centre and the Stuart Park kiosk. Ask the library on Burelli Street to pin one on the community board. After four weeks, members can decide whether to add a third walk or keep the original two.

Register the group with the council’s active communities program by the end of July to gain access to free safety vests and route maps. That step also places the walks on the council website so new residents can find them without extra advertising.