Partial reopening of Te Mata Park following Cyclone Gabrielle

Thanks to the hard work of our contractors, volunteers, and Hastings District Council, we are pleased to be able to partially reopen Te Mata Park from 6am on Saturday 4 March 2023.

We have cleared the cyclone damage on one walking route up and down, which is accessible from both Tauroa and Main Gates car park. The Park will reopen in stages as further tracks are cleared and made safe. At this stage we anticipate opening one new walking track every week, depending on the weather and the availability of resources.

The Park will remain closed for mountain bikers until Saturday 11 March, on the recommendation of the contractors and volunteers responsible for rebuilding our tracks which are still too wet to use.

Peak House will open for cabinet food and coffee this weekend (4 and 5 March), accessible via Te Mata Peak Rd and the new interim walking track. Peak House will return to its full menu on Thursday 9 March. Please stop by for a coffee or something to eat and support the Peak House team.

Public toilets at Tauroa and Main Gates will be functioning as usual but Te Mata Peak road will remain closed from the barrier above Peak House.

It is important to strictly adhere to the route outlined below – both for your own safety and to allow our contractors and volunteers to continue their work to restore more access.  The remainder of the tracks in the Park are closed due to big slips, fallen trees, and debris; tracks by watercourses have been undermined and some have dangerous holes; upper Chambers Walk is completely blocked and unsuitable for walkers to enter; all the routes to the plateau are blocked. For these reasons please stick to the interim walking track only.

We are pleased to be able to welcome the public back into the Park and we ask for your cooperation and patience as we continue our work to repair the Park and make it fully accessible.

Interim walking track directions and notes:

• Follow the arrows
• From Tauroa car park: start on Chambers Walk then at the security fencing see the first arrow and turn left into Te Kahika block. Take Tipuna Footsteps to Main Gates, and cross the road to the red Giant track to the north of Peak House. Walk across Peak House lawn and then walk the road to the summit (or the tracks above the road). Please return by the same route. The route will be marked with arrows as far as the saddle.
• The track is not suitable for running
• Please wear sturdy shoes as the track has a rough surface with a few holes.  It is narrow in parts and has muddy patches
• Please do not deviate from this route