Alerts and trail status

The Pewhairangi/Bay of Islands District Office is employing contractors to hunt goats in Puketi Forest. This work will be happening from late December through to the end of June 2022. Please be aware of the presence of hunters with dogs and firearms targeting goats near Te Araroa and along the Puketi Forest bypass route

Details

Due to a change in farm operations we need to communicate a bypass through the Pukatotara Landcorp Farm. Please see below for the details and map 

Alternative

When you get to marker 211 on Mangakaretu Road you need to continue down that road until you come to Puketotara Road, turn left here and walk until you come to State Highway 10 and turn left and walk until you get to marker and you re join the trail from here. The total detour is 7.7km from point 211 until point 218.  See below for the bypass, in yellow.

The trail from Paihia to Opua may be closed from time to time due to council maintenance. Recommend that you check first with the Paihia I-SITE before leaving Paihia. Other alternatives are by water or via the ferry to Russell.

Following consultation with local iwi in the Russell Forest it has been decided that we will re route Te Araroa around Russell Forest.  The key reason to do this is to respect the concerns of local iwi around reducing the potential spread of Kauri Die Back by our walkers.  We have developed a new route that will take our walkers to the eastern side of the forest, before connecting back up with the trail at 281km marker. Walkers will continue to have a three of options before getting to the new route. These have been outlined on the attached map, and are as follows

1. Catching a ferry to Russell from Paihia between KM markers 249 and 250, and then walk Thru Russell township and up Florence Ave, beside the refuse centre there is a trail that takes you beside and off the main road, over boardwalks and through coastal mangroves, all the way to GAS Russell Garage (5kms) on the corner of Aucks Road and Russell Whakapara Road, turn right and continue down the Russell Whakapara Road for approximately (22km) to The Farm a friendly camping place or continue for another 4.5km (total of 31.5kms) to re-join the trail at KM marker 281, a further 1.5kms south is Sues Place.
2. Kayak up the inlet with Bay Beach Hire phone 0800 611 440 or 021 1894204. This company is based on the beach at Paihia, and if you're going to kayak up to Waikare, Paihia is a better start point than Opua. It's better to travel in a group or two or three, which will reduce costs. The paddle from Paihia to Waikare takes between 3-4hr depending on weather conditions and fitness levels and should only be done by persons with some experience. Cell phone reception is zero once past Marriott Island, so GPS or good map skills are needed. There is a approximately 18kms of kayaking. Further details at baybeachhire.co.nz  When you get to Sheryl’s place (027 309 3476) you can stay there, or walk up the Waikare road for 6.5kms and turn right onto Russell Wakapara road for approx. 13km to The Farm (total of 19.5kms) ) a friendly camping place or continue for another 4.5km (total of 24kms walking)  to re-join the trail at KM marker 281, a further 1.5kms south is Sues Place.
3. Walk from Paihia to Opua 6kms then take the vehicle ferry over the Veronica Channel to Okiato. From there, follow Aucks Rd for 4km to its GAS Russell Garage on the corner of Aucks Road and Russell Whakapara Road, turn right and continue down the Russell Whakapara road for approximately (22km) to The Farm a friendly camping place or continue for another 4.5km (total of 36.5kms) to re-join the trail at KM marker 281, a further 1.5kms south is Sue's Place.

Alternative

Details

The Morepork and Onekainga tracks will be closed for Kauri Dieback Mitigation works. These tracks connect Kaiikanui road and Whananaki North Road. 

Alternative

Bypass directions: At the South End of Helena Ridge track at km 302.9, turn right into Kaiikanui Road, and travel South 9 km to the junction with Pigs Head rd, turn left 0.5 km to Whananaki North Road. Turn left again and proceed 10.5  km along Whananaki North Rd until you meet the trail at km 315. 

Details

Due to land closure we now have a major re route between Whananaki South and Ngunguru. 

Alternative

At the southern end of Pakiri Beach, Te Araroa crosses a corner of private land between the riverbank and Pakiri River Road, at km 476. The landowners have temporarily withdrawn permission for this convenient shortcut, due to COVID-19 concerns.  If the track is blocked it is necessary to continue further inland along the riverbank, past the holiday park, to get to the road.

The boundary between private land and public access is the MHWS (mean high water springs) line, determined and fixed by survey. Put simply, you can walk anywhere below the high tide line. This is easier to do at lower tide levels. The private land and the DOC picnic area facilities may be closed but the beach is public.

Southbound  Walk up the eastern (true right) bank of the river, past the private land and the Pakiri Beach Holiday Park, staying below the MHWS. Immediately beyond the Holiday park there is a basic vehicle track running inland to reach Pakiri River Road.

Northbound  If you are stopped by an improvised barrier on the corner of Pakiri River Road beyond the Pakiri Beach Holiday Park, or by signage advising that the private property access is closed, return up the road past the Holiday Park and turn right to follow the vehicle track along the boundary of the Holiday Park to the foreshore.  Walk along the riverbank, staying below the MHWS line, until you reach the beach

Whakapapa Holiday Park and all accommodation on the mountain are now open to Vaccine Pass Holders only. If you have not obtained a vaccine pass you will not be able to find accommodation or use any DOC huts or campsites in Tongariro National Park. The Whakapapa Village shop is essential to the village and accepts everyone

Details

The marae at Hiruhārama/Jerusalem has temporarily closed to visitors. This includes the St Joseph's Church and Convent. This is a temporary measure to protect the health of the local population.

Details

Roadworks have begun in preparation for constructing a permanent bypass for the large slip that blocked Gladstone road at km 1553. A temporary bypass road has now been provided, including a gravel road, two bridges and a small ford.  In severe flood conditions the ford and bypass road could become unusable. In this case NOBOs would be unable to cross the first stream so just wait it out. If SOBOs can cross the last stream on the farmland the road will be fine.

Take care when the road works and underway and follow the instructions of the traffic controllers.

26 December 2021: Bridge destroyed Travers-Sabine Circuit

Bridge destroyed Travers-Sabine Circuit. Following recent heavy rain, the bridge over Summit Creek between John Tait Hut and Upper Travers Hut has been washed away. The creek can be crossed with care unless heavy rain has caused it to rise.

The bridge will be replaced early 2022.

First published on 14 December 2021. Last reviewed on 26 December 2021.

The damaged bridge is across Summit Creek, a side stream of the Travers River in the Upper Travers Valley at Te Araroa km 1990.2

[The End Date on this Alert is not an accurate indication of the date this situation will be resolved.  That has not yet been determined]

Details

Foresty work is underway near the Coleridge Village in Canterbury.  Because of the work we need to bypass the forest - please see below for the BLUE line and the new route.  Please be aware of logging trucks in the area and respect the use of the farm track - this is a working farm. 

Alternative