Mautohe Cathedral Cove is open for walking access, but the area is naturally unstable and can be affected by severe weather.
This means track closures may happen at short notice to keep visitors safe.
After major damage from 2022-23 summer storms and cyclones, walking access was restored in December 2024.
May 2026 Update
Waimata/Gemstone Bay and Hahei Beach short walk
The extreme weather events so far in 2026 have significantly damaged work we had underway to repair the track at Waimata/Gemstone Bay and also caused a landslide on the planned reroute for the Hahei Short Walk.
As a result, we paused work on these projects to reassess their viability. They’ve remained off-limits to the public and we continue to urge the local community to protect the intent of those closures.
With these sites, we have reached a tipping point.
We do not believe these tracks can be sustained, or merit continued investment, when the feedback from the community and business sector has been clear – Mautohe Cathedral Cove and the experience it offers is the priority.
We are proposing the removal the Waimata Gemstone Bay track permanently. This would involve decommissioning the damaged stairs and spur track and restore the site to nature - recognising ongoing land instability, repeated loss of infrastructure, no feasible alternative route, and the need to use limited funding effectively.
We are also proposing not continuing with the establishment of the Hahei Short Walk reroute. This track will also be removed.
You can read our options papers on these proposals here. We’ve already begun discussions with key stakeholders on these proposals.
We understand the proposed removal of these tracks may disappoint the local community, but we must carefully prioritise investment of limited resources. Continuing to rebuild infrastructure in highly vulnerable locations, where we know damage will reoccur, is not sustainable.
You can provide your feedback on these proposals to us via cathedralcove@doc.govt.nz.
The closing date for public feedback is Friday, 19 June 2026.
How DOC manages the site
We'll maintain overland walking access as long as it remains safe and practical.
Any rebuild or maintenance work is assessed against criteria such as visitor risk, technical feasibility, cultural and natural values, cost, and long term benefit.
Following the 2022-23 storm damage, a $5M International Visitor Levy investment enabled the restoration of walking access (reopened in December 2024) and a reset of the visitor experience to:
- enhance visitor outcomes
- address resilience issues
- manage tourism impacts
- make operating model improvements
Understanding the risks
Visiting outdoor places like Mautohe Cathedral Cove will always involve some risk.
DOC does not remove every hazard because this would damage natural and cultural values and limit how people enjoy the outdoors.
Instead, we aim to manage risks to an acceptable level.
Visitors should always:
- choose activities that match their skills and comfort level
- be responsible for their own risk decisions
- check site information (including weather information for the area) before visiting
What risks exist at Mautohe Cathedral Cove?
The main ongoing risks are geological – including landslides and rockfall.
To manage these, DOC:
- monitors weather and seismic data
- inspects the track when any of four "trigger" conditions are met
- provides clear on-site and online information
- closes the track when conditions become unsafe
If a closure is needed, we will update the DOC website and notify key stakeholders.
We urge visitors to respect track closures.