{"id":155512,"date":"2025-11-27T00:33:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T00:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/155512\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T00:33:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T00:33:08","slug":"waikato-wairere-falls-track-to-stay-closed-through-summer-for-safety-upgrades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/155512\/","title":{"rendered":"Waikato: Wairere Falls Track to stay closed through summer for safety upgrades"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe lower track section remains open and visitors can safely enjoy a tranquil short walk, including the iconic International Seat of Peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Overall, the track was \u201cbetween a rock and a good place\u201d, the Department of Conservation said, as the closure was also an opportunity to give the track a makeover.<\/p>\n

Te Kani-McQueen said in addition to the safety improvements, the team would also replace a bridge, lookout platforms, steps and barriers.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, we\u2019ll be reopening a safer and improved experience for all the people who enjoy this special place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Department of Conservation said the closure of Wairere Falls Track would remain in place into 2026, while it worked with geotechnical experts and mana whenua \u2013 Ng\u0101ti Haua, Ng\u0101ti Hinerangi and Raukawa \u2013 to address risk and upgrade the track.<\/p>\n

\" Wairere Falls track has been closed since July. Photo \/ Department of Conservation<\/p>\n

Te Kani-McQueen said there were several alternative tracks in the area.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Try] one of the many other beautiful walks in the nearby Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose desperate for a waterfall view might enjoy walks in Waiorongomai Valley, or the Henderson Tramline Loop Track.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Wairere Falls track was previously closed in 2024 <\/a>to replace \u201cstructural assets\u201d including bridges, boardwalks and stairs, from the base of the track up to and including the lower viewing platform, because they have come to the end of their useful life.<\/p>\n

For more information and to check for alerts on track conditions or closures, visit the DoC website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cThe lower track section remains open and visitors can safely enjoy a tranquil short walk, including the iconic…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":155513,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[86362,5201,1389,26034,15248,2082,42,85429,16768,3180,43,10903,13120,6302,2069,14625,1961,210,61,40,38,41,39,22974,32632,1524,103109,1533],"class_list":["post-155512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-carries","tag-closed","tag-conservation","tag-department","tag-falls","tag-for","tag-headlines","tag-improvements","tag-matamata","tag-near","tag-news","tag-popular","tag-remain","tag-safety","tag-stay","tag-summer","tag-this","tag-through","tag-to","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories","tag-track","tag-upgrades","tag-waikato","tag-wairere","tag-will"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}