Titokorangi/Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest

11/04/2026

🌧️ ⛔ CLOSURE OF WHAKAREWAREWA FOREST
As a precaution the Whakarewarewa Forest will be closed to the public tomorrow (Sunday 12 April). The closure includes access to Titokorangi / Redwoods, Whakarewarewa, Te Pūtake o Tawa and Waipa.
With Cyclone Vaiana heading our way, has issued a Strong Wind and Heavy Rain watch for Rotorua for all of tomorrow, with wind gusts expected to exceed 110km/h.
Forest access is generally considered unsafe in winds above 60km/h due to the increased risk of falling trees and debris.
Please keep away from the forest for your safety. This also includes the closure of the Tree Research Park (dog park 🐶)

Rotorua Mountain Bike Club
Rotorua Trails Trust
Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua
Mountain Bike Rotorua

09/04/2026

Not often we need to close the Forest so please bear with us. Will keep you posted as the weather system gets closer.

🌲 Heads up - Whakarewarewa Forest closure possible this Sunday ⛔

With Cyclone Vaianu potentially heading our way, we may need to close the forest this Sunday 12 April for public safety.

If closed, access gates will be locked and closure signage in place. We'll make the call Saturday evening after the latest forecasts are reviewed and update you here.

For your safety, please adhere to any closures as there may be a high risk of falling trees, slips and debris.

🌧️ The rest of our council teams and contractors continue preparations ahead of the weekend.

You can find the full update on our website here 👉https://rlc.net.nz/CycloneVaianuPrep

26/03/2026

Morning folks,
A update on forestry operations on this wet day,
Kaingaroa Tipu (KT) have increased contractor resources to expediate the logging programme in the Hill Road/Tawa Road area. Operational area has increased into the neighbouring harvest area, and log truck activity will increase as more volume is being carted out of the forest. The log truck route will remain the same although loadout of logs will commence on Pipeline Road, at the bottom of the Taniwha Trail. Please see attached maps showing the updated area of operation.
As a result of the increased operational area, the updated road/trail impact includes the following:
Roads – Hill Road, Tawa Road, Koekoe Road, Pipeline Road
Mountain Bike Trails – All DH lines, Te Rua, Black House Down, Ma Te Wa, Eagle vs Shark, Corners, Te Mounga, Storm Trooper, Whaaki, Tukonohi, Tuhoto Ariki, Tihi o Tawa, Kataore, Bunny Jugs 2
KT requests 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. Due to the location of the harvest operation, detours may be in place to ensure a safe route around the operation.

26/03/2026

Plenty of work and some good advice from the Rotorua Trails Trust, thanks folks.

12/03/2026

As part of the Waipa Stream Restoration project, Kaingaroa Tipu | Waipa Stream Restoration, Kaingaroa Tipu (formally Timberlands) have a contractor setting up to start harvesting along the section of the Waipa Stream between Nursery Road & Larch Road.
The contractor will move into site on Monday 16th March. Operational hours for the logging crew will be 5:00am – 4:00pm, Monday – Friday. Please see attached a map showing the area of operation.
Several roads and trails will be impacted by this operation, these being:
Roads – Nursery Road, Hill Road, Larch Road, Reservoir Road, Princess Ann Road, Nice Road, Duck Pond Road
Mountain Bike Trails – Mad if You Don’t, Ball and Chain, Puarenga, Yellow Brick Road loop, After Burner Jumps, Old Chevy, Homeward Bound, Taura (detour)
Walking Tracks – All Puarenga Tracks, Black Track (detour)
Horse Riding Trail – Te Ara Puna
Kaingaroa Tipu requests 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. Due to the location of the harvest operation, detours may be in place to ensure a safe route around the operation.
Kaingaroa Tipu will update the Waipa Stream Restoration webpage, as detail develops, on the next stage of restoration to the stream riparian.""
Attached is a map of the detour route which will be in place from Monday the 16th March. Please follow the logging Detour signs and be very careful crossing the road as it is used from Logging Trucks 24/7. AT NO POINT SHOULD YOU EVER RIDE 8 MILE ROAD!

09/03/2026

Kaingaroa Tipu’s contractor continues operations this week into the next block, as per the attached map. Operations will take place between the hours of 5:00am and 4:00pm.
Most of the work will be away from the roads, with little impact on forest users, however, there will be trucks delivering metal at times during the operation. Timberlands requests that forest users please use caution in the area, obey all signage, instructions, restrictions and respect the machinery.

02/03/2026

And now a word from our friends at Kaingaroa Tipu...

"Kia ora koutou,

Kaingaroa Tipu have commenced minor roading work in Whakarewarewa. Operations will take place between the hours of 6:00am and 4:00pm.

Timberlands requests that forest users please use caution in the area, obey all signage, instructions, restrictions and respect the machinery.

As always, we appreciate you sharing this to your respective audiences and/or colleagues. Please get in touch if there are any queries.

We will update further as the operation moves into the next block, from Red Tank Road into Pipeline Road."

25/02/2026

🌳Heads up – Tree removal on Tarawera Road 🚧

Work will begin this Thursday to remove thirty-three trees on Tarawera Road, between Tītokorangi Drive and Forest Place.

The trees have been assessed as hazardous and need to be removed due to their proximity to the road and footpath.

Work is expected to take about one week (weather permitting). There may be short periods of traffic management on the road, but disruption should be minimal.

The tracks through the forest that run parallel to Tarawera rd will have more disruption though. The work area around the machinery will be closed off. If you see the machinery please use a access point into the forest away from them. Best to just avoid the area and be flexible in your plans if you come across a closed area.

Removed material will be mulched back into the forest, with suitable wood reused for future council projects like park seating. This is the first stage of a wider clean-up, with plans to eventually establish a native tree corridor along the forest edge.

Thanks for your patience while we carry out this important work.

23/02/2026

Thanks to the crew at the Pipeline Hose shop for fitting out new hoses at Waipa!

10/01/2026

Here's a great summary from the Rotorua Trails Trust on the logging operations and other bits of work taking place currently.