Whakarewarewa Forest Access & Closures


Whakarewarewa Forest is a commercial forest and therefore all persons wishing to access this forest must comply with the 

 Whakarewarewa General Forest Access Rules and Safety Behaviours for Permit Holders.

All access by vehicle requires a permit. Refer to RECREATIONAL ACCESS PERMITS or BUSINESS/CONTRACTOR ACCESS PERMITS for more information. People who do not follow these rules and requirements could be trespassed.

Whakarewarewa Commercial Forest Operations & Closures

WARNING: At times there will be commercial forest activities carried out within the forest. For your safety, access into these areas will be prohibited. This will be indicated by signage and hazard tape. Anyone who enters an unauthorised area can be prosecuted under the Health & Safety at Work Act 2015.
 

Safety Messages for all Recreational Visitors
 

HARVESTING OPERATIONS
 Operational area - November 2025

Roadline salvage (harvesting & skid construction) is due to start for the summer harvest period in Whakarewrewa. The contractor will move into Nursery Road on 12 November 2025. Operational hours for the logging crew will be 5:00am - 4:00pm, Monday to Friday. Please see the map showing the area of operation. This job is scheduled for approximately 2 weeks.

Stop/Go and appropriate closures/diversions will be in place as required.

Several roads and trails will be impacted by this operation, these being:

  • Roads: Nursery Road, Red Tank Road, The Wash Road, Larch Road, Spruce Road.
  • Mountain Bike Trails: Mad If You Don't, Dragons Tail. Be Rude Not To, Paddy's Run (early exit), Pig Track, Lion Trail
  • Running/Walking Trails: Purple Track/Black Track @cardiac stairs, mixed use trails as above
  • Horse Riding Trail: Orange Horse Track

We request that forest users please use caution in the area, obey all signage, instructions, restrictions and respect the traffic controllers - they are there for your safety.
 

THINNING OPERATIONS

We are starting thinning operations in Whakarewarewa Forest from Monday 7 November. Operations will take place from 7:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday, and will last for approximately five days.

Some roads and mountain bike trails may be closed at times during the thinning programme. Please use caution when in the operational areas and obey all signage, instruction, and restrictions – they are there for your safety.

The following tracks/ roads will be affected by this operation:

  • Mountain bike tracks – Heckle and Ride, DH lines (lower section), Bunny Jugs 2
  • Roads – Pipeline Road


IMPORTANT:

  • Please visit the Rotorua Trail Trust's Facebook page for the most up-to-date track closure information. 

  • Please take extreme care, avoid prohibited areas and obey all signage instructions, restrictions and road controls.

  • Respect security officers and traffic controllers - they are there for your safety and the safety of crews at work.

  • Beware of logging trucks and machinery operating. Please give way to, and move to the side of the road, for all heavy vehicles, especially on hills - for your own safety and the safety of trucks and drivers.

  • Please refer to the Safety & Risk section for further information.

Whakarewarewa Forest Safety Maps

 Map to ACCESS & EMERGENCY MEETING POINTS

Whakarewarewa Recreational Forest Access

  • NO HUNTING is permitted at any time.

  • Recreational access by foot, horse or bike does not require an access permit. To keep up to date on forest activity, closures and trail maintenance, visit the Rotorua Trails Trust and Redwoods Facebook pages. 

  • On rare occasions, all access to Whakarewarewa Forest may be closed for safety and asset protection reasons. Please respect the forest closure decision and stay out until the forest is reopened. 

  • For any other activity or access by motorised vehicle an access permit and key is required. Refer to Business/Contractor Access Permits.

Unauthorised Activities

  • It has been brought to the attention of TIMBERLANDS Limited (TL) that several unauthorised mountain bike tracks have recently been constructed in Whakarewarewa Forest. The construction of tracks or any other land or vegetation-disturbing activity within Whakarewarewa Forest requires the approval of both the forest manager (TL) and land owner (Central North Island Iwi Holdings Limited).  Presently this can only be obtained through a formal application submitted by the Rotorua Trails Trust. Anyone found undertaking these activities without authority will be trespassed and may face prosecution for willful damage.  Continued unauthorised track construction may jeopardise future track authorisations and ultimately the future of mountain biking in the forest. Please refrain from this activity.

General Information

  • Timberlands Limited is working to minimise the inconvenience for public use of the Whakarewarewa Forest during harvest operations and wishes to thank the public for their patience and cooperation.

  • All harvested areas will be replanted, if possible, in the next planting season.

Whakarewarewa Forest Management Plan

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