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The Mautohe Cathedral Cove track on the Coromandel Peninsula is closed until further notice after last week’s storm and intense rainfall caused damage and slumping along the popular walking track.
More than 200mm of rain fell across the region during the storm event, raising concerns about track safety.
Department of Conservation Coromandel operations manager Nick Kelly says an initial assessment has identified visible signs of slumping caused by saturated hillsides.
“The track has been assessed by staff, and there are visible signs of slumping caused by the saturation of the hillside the track traverses,” Nick says.
“There are also sections of the track covered in deep mud and debris which will need to be cleared so further assessments can be undertaken, including geotechnical inspections.”
Previous geological assessments at Mautohe Cathedral Cove have also identified a residual risk of landslides and rockfalls as soils dry out following heavy rain events.
Nick says DOC’s immediate focus is on fully understanding the level of risk following the storm.
“The message is clear – do not use the Mautohe Cathedral Cove track until further notice,” he says.
“This is not the time to go naturing at Mautohe Cathedral Cove – do not put yourself at risk.”
Representatives from Ngāti Hei will be stationed at track entrance points to advise visitors not to use the track.
While the cove can still be accessed from the sea, DOC is urging anyone considering this option to carefully assess the risks, including the potential for rockfall and further landslides.
The storm has also affected reinstatement works at nearby Waimata Gemstone Bay, where contractors have been withdrawn after a section of track under repair was damaged.
A permanently closed section of the coastal track network between Hahei and the Mautohe Cathedral Cove track entrance has also subsided, reinforcing the decision to keep this part of the network closed.
Nick says the Coromandel Peninsula is currently in clean-up mode, with visitors actively discouraged from travelling to the area while recovery work continues. Several parts of the roading network remain compromised.
Tracks to Mautohe Cathedral Cove were closed in February 2023 following extensive damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. Repair work was completed during the second half of 2024, and the tracks reopened to visitors in December 2024.
