Ōpua-Paihia walkway work to resume

Sections of the Ōpua to Paihia coastal walkway will be closed in stages over coming months while work to repair and upgrade the popular track continues.

Stage 1 of remedial work was paused over the Christmas holiday break but will resume from Wednesday 7 February. The work is expected to take three weeks and will include the installation of a 7-metre-long retaining wall, and improvements to the bridge and boardwalk south of the Paihia Top 10 Holiday Park. The trail from Ōpua to the intersection with the Point Veronica lookout side track will remain open. The work is expected to be completed by Friday 1 March.

Stage 2 work will involve the track from north of the Paihia Top 10 Holiday Park on Smith Camp Road to Te Haumi Beach. The work will upgrade the track surface and structures such as retaining walls and boardwalk sections. The goal is to improve general safety and the experience of track users. This will close that section of track for six weeks from Monday 4 March.  

This work will not reopen a 325-metre section of the coastal walkway near Richardson Street. This was damaged by two slips following Cyclone Gabrielle in February. Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board supports the closure of that part of the trail with alternative access provided from Richardson Street (by Ōpua Hall) to Doug’s boat yard.

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Map below indicates walkway works stages.