Department of Conservation - Hauraki-Coromandel

03/09/2026

Over 600 native plants in the ground! 🌿

A huge thanks to the enthusiastic students of Pārāwai School, alongside Trees for Survival, Department of Conservation Hauraki, and the team at Pare Hauraki Native Nursery for donating some extra Kānuka, for a fantastic planting day at the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre.

Together we planted Kānuka, Harakeke, Tī Kōuka, Karamū, and Upokotanga, helping create habitat for native wildlife and strengthening the health of this special place.

Seeing young people caring for nature is a powerful reminder that the future of Aotearoa is in good hands. Every tree planted today is a promise to tomorrow. 🌱

01/09/2026

Whitebait season has arrived. Take a moment to check the latest information and regulations before you head to the river, and help protect this treasured fishery for future generations.

The whitebaiting season is now underway, running from September 1 until 30 October (or if you're on the Chatham Islands, your season starts a little later – 1 December through to the end of February).

If you're planning on whitebaiting this season, make sure you familiarise yourself with the rules before you head out and keep yourself and others safe around the water.

We're also urging whitebaiters to help keep waterways pest-free this season, check, clean and dry your gear so pests don’t hitch a ride.

Find out all you need to know about whitebaiting this season here: https://bit.ly/3CgSyrP

📷: Whitebaiter on the Styx River

31/08/2026

Did you know we have a mini model dam at the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre?

This hands-on display helps bring the valley's logging history to life. A pump moves water to the top of the dam, filling the area above it. Then, all you need to do is pull the rope to release the pin and watch the water rush through, just as it would have done when the historic logging dams were used to transport timber down the Kauaeranga Valley.

The larger model dam on the Kahikatea Walk is another replica, but even that is only a small-scale version of the impressive dams once built throughout the valley during the logging era.

It's a fun way to learn about a fascinating part of Kauaeranga's past and see a piece of local history in action.

📍 Pop into the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre and give the mini dam a go yourself! 💧🌲📖

29/08/2026

August is Biosecurity Month, a great reminder that protecting our special places starts with simple actions.

When you use a Kauri Protection Station to clean your boots and gear, you're helping stop the spread of Phytophthora agathidicida (PA), a microscopic soil-borne pathogen that infects kauri through their roots. PA restricts a tree's ability to move water and nutrients, threatening kauri of all ages. It spreads easily in tiny amounts of soil carried on boots, tyres, tools, and equipment. Thankfully, a quick scrub, disinfecting your footwear, and sticking to the track can make a real difference.

Biosecurity doesn't stop at the forest edge. Our pest-free offshore islands and wildlife sanctuaries rely on visitors checking, cleaning, and closing their gear before travelling. Rats, mice, skinks, w**d seeds, and plant diseases can all hitch a ride and threaten native wildlife and restoration projects

The best biosecurity tools are awareness and action. By checking, cleaning, and caring for our environment, we can help protect these taonga for generations to come. 🥾💚

28/08/2026

⚠️ Mautohe Cathedral Cove closure due to weekend weather.

We’re closing the walking track to Mautohe Cathedral Cove in response to the significant rainfall forecast for Coromandel this weekend.

Heavy rain increases the known landslide and rockfall risk at Mautohe Cathedral Cove. The closure is being made in accordance with DOC’s Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP) for the site and is a precautionary step to manage visitor safety.

Visitors are asked not to use the track or attempt to access the cove on foot while the closure is in place.
DOC will assess conditions following the weather event and the track will reopen once we are satisfied it is safe to do so.

For current alerts and information about Mautohe Cathedral Cove, visit our website:

https://bit.ly/3BbJ0ma ⬅️

This popular walk has spectacular views across the pristine waters of the Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve and ends at the iconic beach archway.

26/08/2026

Some adventures start on the track, others begin with a book. Come have a browse at the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre and discover your next great read.🌿📖

25/08/2026

🌿☀️ Summer prep is well underway at Waikawau Bay!

Our Heritage and Visitor Rangers have been busy clearing vegetation from buildings, fence lines, and campground access areas to keep the camp looking its best. This work allows us to maintain the grounds more effectively, helps prevent scratches to visitors' vehicles and trailers, and improves visibility on corners and roadways throughout the campground.

All part of making Waikawau Bay and our Northern Coromandel campgrounds safer, more accessible, and more enjoyable for everyone this summer. 🚐🏕️

📸Rachael, Harris

21/08/2026

A lot of you have been asking how the track to the Pinnacles hut looks in winter- Well here's the verdict, Its stunning!

Hut Warden Hadley took these awesome shots on the way up yesterday;
"Arguably the best time to stay at the hut- Mid week in winter" he said

Heres your sign to stop waiting for summer and head up the Pinnacles in the Kauaeranga Valley, because naturing doesn't take any seasons off. ☀

19/08/2026

Did you know we have an awesome Virtual Reality experience right here at the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre? 🥽

Step into the world of Kauri Pou Kaitiaki and explore a magnificent Kauri forest without impacting these precious environments. Discover fascinating Māori storytelling, encounter native wildlife, and learn how we can all help protect our treasured Kauri trees from Kauri dieback disease.

Just $2 per experience
Suitable for ages 8 years and over
Fun, immersive and educational
No bookings required!

Ready to give it a go? Ask our friendly team at the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre for more information and experience our Kauri Pou Kaitiaki Experience today!
https://bestawards.co.nz/social-good/social-good/waxeye-4/kauri-po-kaitiaki/