Notice issued by DOC re Tongariro Crossing

Blue Pool access road: 

Here’s some good news for anyone planning a late season mission to the Tongariro, the Blue Pool access will remain open through until Tuesday 24th October, which is after Labour weekend.
The forestry managers have advised us the sign at the gate will be updated to reflect the change in dates, which means anglers can enjoy the spring conditions on the upper river a little longer.

 

Message from DOC:

Please read below information of notice issued by the Department of Conservation for your awareness for our visitors coming to our rohe region:

Tongariro Crossing

This email includes advanced notice about three key operational changes to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing day hike this summer, they include:

  •        no all-day parking at Mangatepopo road end, 4 hour parking restrictions will be in place,
  •        visitors will be discouraged from ascending the peaks, and
  •        visitors will be discouraged from touching the water and swimming in the lakes.

 

We need your help to socialise these changes before we circulate a media release next week.

Can you please remove the following material from your websites and social media channels:

  1. a)    Any references to summit side trips or ascending the peaks of both Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe;
  2. b)    Any images of people touching or swimming in the sacred lakes; and
  3. c)     Any reference to Mt Ngauruhoe as Mt Doom; (Oh Dear, SWMBO is so guilty…)

A media release will be sent out next week to inform wider stakeholders of the changes.

We have included summary of information below that you can use on your websites with your staff.

Important information

  1.    Tongariro Alpine Crossing is within the Tongariro National Park, a UNSECO Dual World Heritage Park for both natural and cultural values and the first in the world to receive associative cultural World Heritage status.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing is within the rohe of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.  Please respect the local Iwi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa and help educate visitors that the peaks and lakes are sacred.

  1.    From 21st of October 2017 (Labour Weekend) to 30th of April 2018 (end of the Great walks season) there will be no all-day parking at the start of the track and there is limited parking, within the park, at the end of the track.
  2.    There will be a four-hour parking limit at the Mangatepopo Road-end that will be enforced with clamping or towing of cars, vans and campervans.
  3.    Ketetahi Road end has limited parking and will have restricted parking in places and single lane traffic.
  4.    The Department will be promoting the use of return shuttle services and will be actively encouraging visitors to park their cars and catch a shuttle from the local villages.  Local park and ride/transport hubs include: Whakapapa, National Park, Ohakune, Taupo and Turangi.
  5.    The Department will be promoting visitors to use the i-site network to book return shuttles.
  6.    The alpine environment is a fragile ecosystem.  Please encourage all visitors to keep to the track/ poled route.

It is not acceptable to use nature as a toilet.  Please encourage all visitors to use toilets and take their own toilet paper. In New Zealand it is offensive to defecate on or off the track and is a human health hazard.

A map of toilets along the hike will be located at the start of the hike.

It is illegal to fly drones or walk your dogs in the Tongariro National Park.  Please encourage all visitors to leave their drones and dogs at home.

We need your help to get these key messages out to our visitors.    Thank you for your time.

ngā mihi

Stacey Faire

Senior Community Ranger – Tongariro District

Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai