Department of Conservation of New Zealand
Department of Conservation of New Zealand
01/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/20/2026 15:31
Severe weather closes some Northland tracks and campgrounds
Date: 21 January 2026
"With an orange heavy rain warning from MetService in place for Northland, we're asking people to check the DOC website for the latest warnings and closures before heading out to DOC sites this week," says Acting Director Regional Operations, Phelan Pirrie.
"MetService is forecasting intense rainfall between Wednesday and Thursday morning, which could affect tracks, campsites and access roads.
"Conditions can change quickly, so we're urging everyone to plan ahead if they're considering naturing, take care and put safety first."
Further closures in Northland and other parts of the country might be put in place if necessary. These will be announced on DOC's website. The Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk has also been closed due to safety concerns. If you have a booking that is affected, please email [email protected] to arrange a refund.
DOC staff will carry out assessments on assets once the extreme weather has passed, and this work will determine when huts, campsites and tracks can be reopened to the public.
Closures
Bay of Islands/ Te Pēwhairangi
Whangarei
Kauri Coast/Waipoua forest
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Department of Conservation of New Zealand published this content on January 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 20, 2026 at 21:31 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]