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RECENT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS MEAN BETTER ACCESS
It has been a busy year
for the Kauaeranga
Valley, however
not in the way that
the Department of
Conservation (DOC)
would have preferred!
Described by DOC
senior ranger Leanne
Irvine as “one of the
worst events we’ve
ever had”, last year’s
debilitating storm
in early March 2017
caused havoc and
mayhem forcing
closures as well as
major damage to
roads, trees, tracks
and campgrounds.
Repairs have taken
well over a year, but
fortunately, even as
work continued, some
areas remained open
for visitors in Summer and the Easter holidays.
“Most of the work is complete with no further
disruption expected. The Valley can enjoy a
renaissance as it welcomes visitors back,” says
Wendy Hillerich, Visitor Centre’s Supervisor.
The entire staff agrees, “It is wonderful to see
the large number of people again enjoying the
attractions and facilities that the area offers.”
One of the most welcomed improvements is the main access road
to the Visitor Centre itself. “Sealing of the road makes the centre and
its facilities even more accessible to more people, including drivers
of rental vehicles whose insurance does not cover travel on unsealed
roads”, adds Wendy. “It means an easier drive with much better road
safety for those users. The road beyond the Visitor Centre, although
still gravel, has been greatly improved, and there is a new bridge to
replace the Wainora Ford.” (See photo.)
CAMPING, ACCOMMODATION AND TRACKS
The upgraded road beyond the Centre provides improved access
to a wide variety of walking and tramping tracks in the Coromandel
Forest Park. These range in length from 15 minutes to overnight hikes,
and lead you to giant Kauri, stunning views, peaceful streams and
fascinating volcanic geography.
The carpark for the locally famous Hoffman’s Pool is just 2km beyond
the Visitor Centre, and the spectacular Pinnacles Walk begins 9km
from the centre at the end of the road. DOC estimates that even
though remote, the Pinnacles attracts more than 50,000 visitors each
year. Near the base of the peak, the popular Pinnacles Hut (shown
below), sleeps 80 and is the largest in NZ. Book ahead, as Saturdays
are always in demand.
“Most of the tracks have also been repaired, and 99% of the Valley is
open again,” Wendy explains. “Work continues on the campgrounds,
and eventually these facilities
will be upgraded as well.”
Campsites and
accommodation in the Valley
range from tent camping and
back country huts to powered
RV and bus camping sites.
There are also two new fully
equipped cottages available –
Cookson and Kauri Cottages.
Above: The Wainora
Ford was damaged
and undercut
during last year’s
storms. Work is
now complete, and
the new Wainora
Bridge is open.
The Pinnacles Hut.
Nothing can compare with arriving at
the top of the Pinnacles just in time to
capture the perfect sunrise – a fiery blaze
to the east over Tairua. Silently we remove
marmite sandwiches from camelbaks with
fingers cold from the wind chill factor at
759m. The stillness and magnitude of the
mountainous surroundings is staggering.
Light hits the sharp peaks of the ancient,
once-volcanic ranges to the North. The
dramatic boulders and vast valleys of the
Kauaeranga are laid out behind us and a
tiny glimpse of the Firth of Thames and
Hauraki Plains to the west seems a
million miles away.
– Emma Darragh
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COROMANDEL LIFE 2018 WINTER/EARLY SPRING