Date:  22 May 2020

Matata Campground and Whirinaki Recreation Camp remain closed until July 2020 to undertake upgrades and safety work.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused or having to amend your plans. Our focus is the health and Safety of the public and after assessments of the two campsites we have deemed them unfit to open at this time,” said Jade King-Hazel, Operations Manager, Whakatane Whirinaki Opotiki.

Matata Campground is undergoing safety work on the amenities and overall maintenance. Whirinaki Recreation Camp will also under work to repair sustained damage from over the lockdown period. This includes a floor collapsing in the toilet block, due to rain getting in.

There are many huts around this area of the Bay of Plenty that can still be enjoyed. When using huts, visitors must take responsibility for their own COVID-19 hygiene and cleaning requirements:

• be prepared to undertake additional cleaning when using huts, toilets, and campsites
• you will need to carry your own cleaning and protective equipment to safely use shared facilities (including toilets)
• leave facilities clean and fit for use by others.

This is even more important over winter when standard cleaning and maintenance work is carried out less frequently than at peak times of the year. DOC will undertake standard cleaning and maintenance work for the winter season.

If you are planning on using DOC accommodation:

• stay home if you are unwell
• enable contact tracing - tell someone before you go, and use the hut books
• practise physical distancing of 2 metres for people you do not know.

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