East Coast alerts
Get the latest information on DOC facilities in the East Coast and Te Urewera Area. On this page:
For your safety, every effort has been made to ensure this information is correct. Please be warned that weather conditions can have a serious impact on tracks and roads. Always check with the DOC office nearest to your point of departure before starting up a track.
To report any safety hazards in the outdoors please call DOCHOTLINE (0800 632 468)
Gisborne Whakatane Area tracks, walks and campsites
Updated 9 March 2012
Tawa, Koranga and Nikau Tracks
All these tracks have slips on them and extreme caution is required. Members of the public are advised not to go anywhere near these slips. In some cases you may be able to walk below the slip or above the slip.
Please contact the Gisborne Whakatane Area Office for updates +64 6 8690460.
Fairbrother Loop Track
The Fairbrother Loop Track on the Ohope hill has part of the track closed due to a major slip. Please adhere to the safety tape and do not go on the part of the track taped off.
Otipi Road
The public are advised the Otipi Road is now open all the way to the Motu River. There are steep drop offs and narrow sections proceed with caution four wheel drive only.
Te Waiti Hut to Stag Flat
There are three slips on this track. One large slip makes the track impassable but diversions can be taken by dropping down into the river.
Manganuku Campsite, Waioeka Gorge
Due to events beyond our control the Manganuku Campsite is closed until further notice. We will endeavour to have it re-opened for the Summer period.
Te Urewera National Park
Updated 18 April 2012
Northern Te Urewera
Ngutuoha Nature Trail
This track is still open to the public.
However, please note that the Southern Footbridge on the bottom section of the Ngutuoha Nature Trail is closed due to damage caused by bad weather.
Matahi Valley Road (to access Northern Te Urewera)
The road is now open and clear at this stage until Otapukawa Stream. The condition of the road could change depending on the weather.
For regular updates on this road refer to this page, or contact Te Urewera Whirinaki Area Office.
Southern Te Urewera
Waiau River
The Overland track from Whites Clearing to the old Parahaki site is overgrown. Times posted on signs are more than doubled. Overland from Parahaki to Waiau is impassable due to windfall damage.
Maungapohatu Road
This road is now open to all vehicles. It is a formed gravel road.
Tracks which sustained substantial snow damage in August 2006
- Link track from Waiau Valley to Lake Waikaremoana
- Track between the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk and Whakatakaa Hut
- Track between State Highway 38 and Whakatakaa Hut
These tracks should only be attempted by experienced trampers. Although the snow on tracks and walkways has long-since melted the effect on vegetation can still pose dangers to visitors. Tramping times are much longer than usual.
Storm damage from 19 March 2011
The wind storm has bought down many trees in the Whirinaki Forest Park. Rangers have at this stage only visited a few sites but the storm damage that they have seen at those sites can be reasonably expected to be throughout the Forest Park.
Any one planning to walk or ride tracks in the Whirinaki Forest Park including the Moerangi shared use track and the Central Whirinaki Track should be warned to allow extra time to complete the journey and also expect to have to climb over numerous windfalls
Currently access to River Road carpark is open but confined to one lane
River Road between River Road car park and Arohaki Lagoon carpark is blocked by windfalls.
Pukuhunui Road end, Plateau Road end, Matakahia Saddle Access and Opureke Access
Culverts have blown and eroded the road on Waipunga and Pohokura roads.
2WD vehicles with high clearance can access these road ends. They are not well signposted, so it is suggested that you use topographical maps. The roads pass through managed exotic forestry and may be closed for logging at times.
There is limited cell phone coverage from Matakahia Saddle and Plateau Road end only (Telecom network).
Upper Te Hoe Hut to Central Te Hoe Hut via River Route:
After several extreme rain events in early 2011 the route through the Te Hoe River gorge is now unsafe and impassable. This route through the gorge section known as "The Cut" will not be re-established. Please use the ridge track.
Central Whirinaki Hut to Upper Whirinaki Hut via Caves Route:
This track is not maintained and is a marked route. You need a high level of experience for this track. The route via the river will not be re-established. Please use the Taumutu Stream track.
Mangamako
DOC would like to advise the public that the logging company KTL are currently logging around the Mangamako area until mid-to-late March. Crew members will be working from 7am to 4pm most days. Delays and road closures are likely. To minimise access for thieves the gate will be locked from 4pm to 7am daily and all day when KTL are not working.
Waipunga Road
Open to both 2WD and 4WD vehicles. However, you do need to take care on this road during wet weather.
back to top