Fast progress on Abel Tasman Coast Track

All but one section of the Abel Tasman Coast Track has re-opened, after dry weather aided repairs to several parts of the Great Walk damaged by heavy rain in August.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) said the section that remained closed – a high-tide stretch – had an alternative lowtide option, and another route was due to open there by the middle of this month.

DOC said last month’s dry spell had enabled rapid progress in the repairs to the Tonga Quarry to Onetahuti Beach section, which opened last week, and the Ma¯rahau to Anchorage section which opened the week before.

While the high tide section from Anchorage to Torrent Bay was still shut, visitors could cross the bay there within two hours either side of the low tide.

DOC workers and contractors were also establishing a new route on the Anchorage side of the high-tide track, which was expected to open in about two weeks.

The poled route, fording the Torrent River, would allow people to cross four hours either side of low tide, and would open access to Cleopatra’s Pool, DOC said.

The company Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles and Kaiteriteri Kayaks helped fix the Tonga Quarry to Onetahuti Beach section, transporting diggers and other equipment on its two barges.

Sales and marketing manager David Noakes said workers from the company – owner Keith Knapp, Knapp’s son Greg, grandson Jackson and colleague Dan Baigent – cut in a new 600m-700m stretch of track after the old route was washed away.

‘‘We have had to go a little bit away from the coastline.

‘‘Far enough in, so that the next weather event hopefully doesn’t affect the track too negatively.’’

That added to a brand new 200m section of track put in several weeks ago between Coquille Bay and Anchorage, behind Gilbert Point.

Having the track fully open again was ‘‘great news’’, he said.

‘‘We are looking forward to having somebody come and tell us that they’re the first person to walk the new track,’’ Noakes said.