Media release

21 November 2016 – 4.00pm

South Island still open for business

Many Department of Conservation campgrounds, tracks and other attractions in the upper and western South Island are still very much open for business.

National Operations Director Martin Kessick says only a small area around southern Marlborough, in and around Kaikoura, was seriously impacted by last week’s major earthquake.

All campgrounds, tracks and other facilities in the Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, Golden Bay and on the West Coast are open to and continuing to welcome visitors.

“We are working hard to ensure our network is open so visitors can enjoy our special places for a typical summer camping holiday.”

In Nelson, the Heaphy Track and Abel Tasman Coast Track Great Walks are open as is the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds.

Coastal camping can be enjoyed at DOC campsites in the Marlborough Sounds and, in northern Marlborough, at White’s Bay and Rarangi. Riverside camping is also available at Mill Flat, Onamalutu and Pelorus Sound in Marlborough.

More than 170 DOC high priority tracks and structures have been visually inspected by air or ground already in the Eastern South Island region (including north Canterbury) and southern Marlborough, Northern South Island Region and on the West Coast.

“There are obviously some places in southern Marlborough around the Kaikoura area which are still off limits, but there are still plenty of places and attractions to visit and stay on public conservation land,” he said.

The DOC website contains information about what’s open or closed and this is updated regularly.

The Honeycomb Hill caves in the Oparara Basin near Karamea have been reopened, after being closed as a precautionary measure. The caves were assessed as safe to enter by geotechnical engineers.

Banburry Mine, part of the Denniston Experience, was also assessed and has been re-opened while a slip closing the Fox River Caves will be assessed in the next fortnight.

As weather can change conditions, visitors are reminded to check the DOC website, local visitor centre or i-site networks for the latest updates on our places.

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