Alerts and trail status

The Bay of Islands District Office is employing contractors to hunt goats in Puketi Forest. This work will be happening from 16th May through to the end of June 2023. Please be aware of the presence of hunters with dogs and firearms targeting goats near Te Araroa and along the Puketi Forest bypass route. Please keep to the tracks

Details

The Mangakaretu Track across Wrights farm is closed from 1st May to 14th September due to Farm Operations and Duck shooting Season.

The 2022-23 v41 maps show the southbound trail turning off Puketotara Road onto Mangakaretu Road at km 202.6.  This route is not available before 15th September 2023.  Use Puketotara Road between Waiare Road and SH10.  

Alternative

From Puketi Recreation Centre, walk south down Waiare Road for almost 5 Km to the intersection with Puketotara Road. Turn left (East) and follow this road (13km) all the way to State Highway 10. Turn left for 500m and join the trail again at the SH10 overbridge.

Northbound walkers from Kerikeri should walk south on SH10 before turning right (west) onto Puketotara Road.

Details

The previous track across the Landcorp farm between km 200 and km 208 has been permanently closed.  This section of the farm is now used for raising bulls and is dangerous to enter. Follow the road bypass along Waiare Road, Puketotara Road and Mangakaretu Road as described below

The farm track has been removed from current Te Araroa maps but may still be shown in apps or previously downloaded maps.  Signage indicates that the track is closed. Signs placed by landowners, or by Te Araroa Trust, take precedence over any other map or guide, as these may be out of date.

Alternative

The gate at km 200.3 was marked on the original 2022-23 v41 maps as giving access to the farm track, but this track is permanently closed and the gate is now locked. The track has been removed from v41 Map 13 v2. The route now follows a road bypass south, then east and then north to get around the closed section

Older maps from 2021-22 v40, which may be used on apps that have not yet been updated, show the road bypass as being the normal route.

This forest has active logging operations. Be extremely careful of logging trucks and harvesting activities. 

In partnership with Ngāti Hapū ki Waitangi:

• Wear a high vis vest/jacket at all times through the forest, for personal safety and to increase walker visibility for logging truck drivers.
• Stay on the track and do not deviate from the track, for your own safety.
• Trees may be felled within two tree lengths of the track.
• Heed all signs and do not enter areas marked as closed.
• Be aware of tree felling.

Details

The route using Morepork and Onekainga tracks is no longer available for Te Araroa. These tracks previously connected Kaiikanui road and Whananaki North Road, but a section of the connecting route using private land has been closed to walkers.

Alternative

Bypass directions: At the South End of Helena Ridge track at km 307, 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 319.2. 

The closure dates on the 2021 map below were optimistic. The Morepork Track has now been re-opened for walkers making day trips into the forest and back, but there is no track connection through to Whananaki for Te Araroa.  The road bypass shaded purple below is the only permissible route

The swingbridge opposite the end of Remiger Road, km 519, has been severely damaged and is not usable.  Detour via Puhoi Road between Puhoi Village and Remiger Road  This alert applies until further notice.  The end date is unknown at this stage

Please do not attempt to walk this track or climb across the broken bridge.  Loggers are working with heavy machinery on a section of forest very near to the closed track.  They have limited visibility and the risk of injury or death for anyone attempting to get past is very real.  They report walkers and runners are putting their lives at risk, despite clear signage

Update 2nd February:  Track inspection has found that the Puhoi track is also blocked by a big slip across the track at 1.7 km east of the swing bridge (km 520.7)

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The 2022 Te Araroa route south from Drury is not the same as the 2021 route.  The correct 2022 maps were published on October 5th 2022

The trail from km 651 to 656 follows a new route for 2022 to get around a very large construction site.  Do not try to get through this work site based on 2021 maps.  If you walk down Fitzgerald Road you will have to backtrack 3.5 km.

The construction company have worked with us to make this safe, but they are reporting walkers attempting to enter the site at great personal risk.  Please respect local signage 

Map 37 of Te Araroa 2022-23 v41 contains a small but important error that has passed unnoticed for at least a decade.  The track south from km 727, or north from km 729, follows a stop bank.  The map implies a sharp turn to the west to join the road at around km 727.7.  This is not correct.

Stay on the stop bank and keep walking parallel to the pipeline in the grass to the east, crossing several stiles, until rejoining the road verge.  Walkers attempting to follow the little hook shown on the map have been walking through a path next to a house and crossing the resident's front lawn, or making their way through Te Ohaaki Marae.  The locals are friendly, but would like us to stay on the agreed path along the stop bank 

EcoFX intends to aerially sow 1080 (Sodium fluoroacetate) toxic bait over portions of Te Araroa that fall within the treatment area.

The operation is expected to go ahead between 13 March 2023 and 28 June 2023. The operation is weather dependent, so this start date is indicative.

Warning signage will be erected at all entry points to the affected parts of the trail. The trail will also be cleared of toxic bait as soon as possible but within 24 hours after the aerial application and will also be cleared a second time either:

1. immediately after the occurrence of strong winds; or
2. immediately before the weekend or commencement of public holidays, whichever occurs first.

Warning signage and danger tape/netting will be erected at entry points of the trail on the evening before the operation to warn the public of the dangers the danger tape will be removed after the track has received its first clearance.

For a detailed map of the treatment area, please see the DOC Pesticide Summary

Notification from DOC: 42 Traverse Track closed

The 42 Traverse is partially closed due to an active slip that has washed out a 150 m section of the track. 

The slip is located between the turn off to Top/Clymo Track and the turnoff to Waione/Cokers Track:  Map of the 42 Traverse Track closure (PDF, 3,119K). Coordinates: E1815764 N5683154 and E1815854 N5683059.

Investigations into track stability are ongoing and we will provide updates as the situation progresses.

The remainder of the 42 Traverse is open. Top/Clymo Track and Ten Man Hut are accessible from Ohinetonga Reserve, and Waione/Cokers Track is accessible from Kapoors Road. Due to the partial closure, the 42 Traverse is not operational as a full end-to-end experience.

First published on 28 November 2022. Last reviewed on 19 December 2022.

This message first received from DOC 28 November. Location estimated to be km 1088.5. That is 19 km from Owhango. End date for this Alert is unknown

Te Araroa does not follow the whole 42 Traverse route, but is does include the location of the slip. Te Araroa branches off 42 Traverse at km 1092.5 to follow the Waione/Cokers track and then branches again onto Access Road No 3

The Te Araroa route from Taumarunui to Owhango is not affected. The closed section after that can be bypassed by walking south on Hwy 4 to National Park or by arranging a shuttle from Owhango to resume Te Araroa at or after km 1105.5 on Hwy 47

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Tongariro Alpine Crossing Red Crater forecast for today.

Link for web browsers and iOS Notes and Maps app only.  

Internet connection required

Details

Walkers are advised that if planning to resupply in Otaki the road out to resupply from Otaki Forks (near Parawai Lodge/Hut and km marker 1597) to Shields Flat is closed to vehicles. This is due to slip damage.

If you wish to walk out to resupply in Otaki there is a DOC emergency access track through the forest to the west of Otaki Gorge Road. The track starts along the road north of Otaki Forks and comes out at Shields Flat carpark. This track is marked on the topomap and from Otaki Forks to Shields Flat is approx. 5km one way, expected to take 2-3 hours. Please note this is a challenging walk. More information available on DOC website here - the bypass track is marked on below map.

From Shields Flat it is 11km to SH1 and a further 2km to Otaki township. 

Please note that the previous alternative option with a walkway over the slip on Otaki Gorge Road is closed due to further slip movement. Please refer to the Kapiti Coast District Council website for the latest information on access via Otaki Gorge Road 

Alternative

Remain on the trail and be prepared to carry enough supplies and food for the walk between Levin to Waikanae - or vice versa.

Details

Walkers are advised that if planning to resupply in Otaki the road out to resupply from Otaki Forks (near Parawai Lodge/Hut and km marker 1597) to Shields Flat is closed to vehicles. This is due to slip damage.

If you wish to walk out to resupply in Otaki there is a DOC emergency access track through the forest to the west of Otaki Gorge Road. The track starts along the road north of Otaki Forks and comes out at Shields Flat carpark. This track is marked on the topomap and from Otaki Forks to Shields Flat is approx. 5km one way, expected to take 2-3 hours. Please note this is a challenging walk. More information available on DOC website here - the bypass track is marked on below map.

From Shields Flat it is 11km to SH1 and a further 2km to Otaki township. 

Please note that the previous alternative option with a walkway over the slip on Otaki Gorge Road is closed due to further slip movement. Please refer to the Kapiti Coast District Council website for the latest information on access via Otaki Gorge Road 

Alternative

Remain on the trail and be prepared to carry enough supplies and food for the walk between Levin to Waikanae - or vice versa.

The section of track to the Hanover Street exit/entry point to Trelissick Park is currently closed due to a slip. This section is marked red on the map below.

Please use the alternative Oban Street exit/entry point to Trelissick Park and reconnect to the trail at the Wadestown Road/Weld Street intersection. The alternative route is marked green on the map.

(Last updated: 18 April 2023).

Help stop the spread of lindavia (lake snow)

Do not swim, wash, take water or put any equipment into these lakes. These lakes hold high cultural significance to Māori, particularly local iwi Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō. They are tapu (sacred) and the restrictions have been placed to uphold their mauri (life force) and purity.

The invasive alga lindavia is present in Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa. It causes lake snow – a sticky mucus that hangs below the surface of the water. Not touching the water in these lakes will also prevent the spread of lindavia.

Details

SEASONAL CLOSURE

Mt Linton Station (south of Takitimu Mountains) is closed every year from 25 September to 5 November for lambing.

Alternative

There is no easy walking alternative so we recommend not attempting this section until it is open from 5 November.

Please do not attempt to walk this route when closed. 

Details

SEASONAL CLOSURE

The route from Birchwood (south of Mt Linton Station) to Merrivale (north of Longwood Range) is closed every year from 1 September to 9 November for lambing. 

Alternative

There is no easy alternative so we recommend not attempting to walk this route until it opens on 9 November.

Please do not attempt to walk this route when it is closed. 

Details

Te Araroa route through Island Bush Block is closed to walkers due to forestry operations from Monday 9^th January 2023. This closure applies until further notice. Rerouting for southbounders is via road verge from the start of Hewitt Road heading south on Upper Scotts Gap Road, Symon Road, right onto Lower Scotts Gap Road, then right again onto Otautau-Tuatapere road to Merrivale. Northbounders are the reverse of this from the stile on Otautau-Tuatapere road.

Re-opening is expected to be 30th September.  Always check the local signage, which may override any information found on websites or apps

Alternative

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