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Tracks to Mautohe Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula will remain closed while the Department of Conservation seeks specialist geotechnical advice following recent extreme rainfall that has triggered new safety concerns.
The closure has been activated under DOC’s Trigger Action Response Plan for Cathedral Cove after landslides and rockfalls were identified across several coastal sites in the northern Coromandel.
DOC Coromandel operations manager Nick Kelly says initial inspections found multiple areas requiring more detailed assessment.
“Ngāti Hei contractors and DOC staff are on site starting clean-up and assessment operations under strict safety protocols,” he says.
“Independent geotechnical advisers will be on site this week to complete detailed inspections and determine next steps.”
DOC has engaged engineering firm Tonkin + Taylor to assess several sites, including Mautohe Cathedral Cove, Opera Point and Waimata Gemstone Bay. Initial verbal advice is expected early next week.
Contractors working on the reinstatement of the Waimata Gemstone Bay track have also been withdrawn while assessments are under way.
Nick says public safety remains DOC’s top priority.
“The tracks at Mautohe Cathedral Cove will remain closed until we’re satisfied it’s safe to reopen. This is not a safe time to be visiting Cathedral Cove,” he says.
There is currently no target date for reopening the tracks, and DOC is asking the public to respect the closures.
“We understand it’s frustrating and disappointing to have the cove closed again, but recent events on the East Coast and at Mt Maunganui, along with previous advice, show the risks to public safety must be carefully managed based on reliable information.”
While the cove can still be viewed or accessed from the sea, DOC is urging anyone considering this to carefully assess the risks, including the potential for further rockfall and landslides.
A large landslide has also occurred on the already-closed Hahei coastal track to Grange Rd, reinforcing the earlier decision not to repair or reopen that part of the track network. Cracking near the Grange Rd lookout has expanded, signalling further potential for slips in that area.
Opera Point, where the track was reinstated in 2025, has also been compromised by a new landslip and is now closed again, with DOC advising people not to use the track.
Nick says investigations following the 2023 storms showed that periodic track and structure damage would likely continue in the Cathedral Cove Recreation Reserve due to the area’s inherent landscape instability and high likelihood of storm events.
“We identified the most likely places to be damaged again, and this recent event aligns with previous landslide modelling and geotechnical analysis.
“DOC remains committed to maintaining safe overland access to the Cathedral Cove archway for as long as it remains viable, while also protecting the site’s natural, cultural and recreational values.”
In more positive news, DOC’s North Coromandel campsites are expected to reopen this weekend, subject to final checks. Visitors are advised to check the DOC website for alerts or contact Booking Services before making plans.
Tracks to Mautohe Cathedral Cove were closed in February 2023 following damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. After extensive repairs, they reopened to visitors in December 2024.
