New track planned for gorge

"It provides another option for walking at the gorge and that's very exciting." Allanah Irvine, Department of Conservation Manawatu operations manager

The range of walks through the Manawatu gorge is set to expand as one track becomes longer, and a new track is announced.

Department of Conservation Manawatu operations manager Allanah Irvine announced the construction of the additional 4 kilometre track at the reopening of the gorge’s 10km track on Tuesday, which was closed after a slip in September 2016.

The 10km track had to be rerouted, which has made it 1.2km longer.

Irvine said the department was optimistic that the rerouted track would not incur further slips anytime soon, but no one could predict what would happen.

‘‘One of the really cool things about the Manawatu Gorge is its geography and its geology, but it also means that it creates a challenge.

‘‘You never know what nature is going to throw at us.’’

Work on the new 4km track will begin in the 2017-18 financial year.

Irvine said the new walk would be a loop track near the Whatonga sculpture, at the Ashhurst end of the gorge.

‘‘It provides another option for walking at the gorge and that’s very exciting.’’

The now 11.2km track can be accessed from both ends of the gorge but as State Highway 3 through the gorge remains closed, people must take an alternative route to access the carparks at either end if only wanting to walk the track one-way.

Slips on SH3 are being cleared, but the New Zealand Transport Agency cannot confirm when the road will reopen.

Conservation minister Maggie Barry, who cut the ribbon at the track reopening, said the tracks had changed the gorge from a regional success to a national ‘‘must do’’ experience.

‘‘This is a very special place for getting in touch with nature.’’