Teams of Backcountry Trust volunteers have begun to work alongside DOC to clear tracks in cyclone affected zones. An update on cyclone affected regions is below.

 

DOC are continuing to assess areas affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. As assessments are completed, or as areas are opened, DOC will update their website, so please make sure you visit the DOC website before venturing into the hills. Please note that just because an area is opened does not mean that all the tracks have been fully checked, so please take these additional precautions in North, Central and Eastern North Island areas:
  • Allow for extra travel time to negotiate windfall or track damage
  • Carry an emergency shelter and enough clothes for an unplanned night out
  • Take an emergency locator beacon with you
  • Have appropriate means to navigate off-track if required
  • Be prepared to turn back if trail conditions aren’t viable
An update for affected areas:
  • Kaimanawa: The Kaimanawa Forest park is open, but please take the precautions listed above. There are large sections of windfall in the area. Backcountry Trust volunteers teams have cleared the Te Iringa track, Poronui Access track, and the first 6km of the track from Oamaru Hut to Boyd Hut.
  • Kaweka: Facilities in the Kaweka Forest park are open.. The Rissington Bridge is still out, and Makahu road has sustained significant damage. The Napier-Taihape road is now open and users can access the park from Kuripapango. Please be vigilant that conditions on roads leading to trail heads will have changed. The tracks in this area have not been fully inspected, so please report any track damage or windfall to DOC. Aerial flyovers have given some reassurance that huts are all still in situ, however, their condition has not been confirmed with landings.
  • Ruahine: The Ruahine Forest park is open, but please take the precautions listed above. There are sections of impassable windfall in the area and not all tracks have been checked yet. There are a number of slips and windfalls along the track from the road end to Iron Gate Hut and onwards to Triangle Hut. These slips are unstable and DOC asks visitors to consider alternative options for their trip. Please note Leon Kinvig hut has been washed off its piles by floodwater and is currently closed. No Man’s road is closed. Kashmir Road is open to the Daphne access, but closed beyond that. Pending a quote from Downer’s there is a chance it may be open further next week. Yeoman’s track has sustained significant damage, including structural damage to a number of bridges. These structures are currently unsafe to use and DOC are asking users to change any plans to use this track until the issues are rectified. The track from Hinerua hut to Smith’s Stream has been completely washed away by a large, unstable slip. Backcountry Trust have scoped and flagged a new route, which starts at the heli pad and is marked with a combination of red and pink flagging tape. A crew will cut and mark the track fully in the next month or two. The flagged route can be used, but be aware that for the most opart, it is not a formed track. There is bush bashing involved and you do need to have the means to navigate off-track in case you lose the markings. Keep an eye on the DOC website for details.
  • Northland: There have been significant landslides and erosion on coastal walks. The popular Mangawhai Cliff Walkway is closed until further notice and DOC are asking people not to attempt to do this walk.
  • Auckland: The well known Te Henga Walkway is completely inaccessible and fully closed for the foreseeable future. Not only are there large slips and landslides throughout the track, but the bridge at the Bethell’s end has washed away. Access to the Auckland west coast settlements is restricted to residents only and Scenic Drive has major road disruption either side of the Arataki Visitor Centre which is closed. Waitakere Ranges Regional Park remains closed (Piha, Karekare, Bethells, Whatipu), as is Muriwai Regional Park. A number of tracks in the Waitakere Ranges are badly damaged and in some cases destroyed.
  • Coromandel: The Cathedral Cove Walk is unsafe for visitors and has been closed, due to landslips and the ongoing risk of rockfall and erosion. DOC are asking people not to use the track to walk down to the beach and don’t use a vessel to land on the beach either.
  • Kaimai:  All facilities are open at this stage. The only tracks that are still closed are listed here, everything else is now open.  Lindemanns Loop, Rapurapu Track and Aongatete Loop Track should be open by 1 April.  Waitawheta Tramway, Karangahake Tunnel Loop Track and Dickey’s Flat to Dalys Hut Track remian closed until further notice.  Please check the DOC website for updates. Expect areas of windfall and slips.
  • Whirinaki, Urutawa and Waioeka: DOC have completed both front country and backcountry checks and are currently consolidating the information. Please check the DOC website for updates. Expect areas of windfall and slips.
  • Raukumara: No updates currently. The area remains closed.
  • Te Urewera: The Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk has been closed for the season. Sandy Bay Hut, Lou’s Lookout, Hinau Track, Aniwaniwa Track and Black Beech Track are also closed. Tūhoe are asking that people delay their plans to go to Te Urewera. For updates, visit the Ngaī Tūhoe website.
If you venture out and come across any track or hut damage, please report it at this link:

 

 

In particular, the following information will ensure it gets attended to as quickly as possible:
  • GPS coordinates (NZTM format preferred)
  • Photos of the damage
  • Measurements (for example, approximately how big are the trees across the track? How many are there? How long is the slip?)
  • A detailed description
Providing this information is the best way the community can help recovery efforts on Public Conservation Land.

 

Photo at top: Backcountry Trust volunteers clearing windfall on Te Iringa Track, Kaimanawa Forest Park. Photo (c) Megan Dimozantos.