Visit the Kiwi way – Look after our place

The Team from Department of Conservation

The Department of Conservation, local iwi and community groups are working hard to look after what makes our peninsula special. We hope you will join us, below are a few key things to remember, they are easy ways you too can contribute to conservation in Coromandel.

Dotterels Nesting:
- Keeping dogs and vehicles off beaches and sandspits
- Use marked access ways to get to the beach
- Stay away from roped off sites, and please heed instructions at these sites
- Leave nesting birds alone – if you see a dotterel which appears to be injured, it likely has a nest nearby, move away quickly

Kauri Protection Project:
- Clean your gear! Remove all soil before and after forest visits. Clean your shoes, tyres and equipment
- Obeying instructions on any signs on walking tracks, if a track is closed, stay off.
- Use a wash station if one is available, wash stations have been set up at the entrance to some tracks for you to use as you enter and when you leave.
- Stay on the tracks and stay off roots of Kauri
- Avoid any tracks with mud, the pathogen is spread more easily in wet conditions
- If you intend to do a lot of walking or hiking, purchase a brush and disinfectant to carry with you (Sterigene is available from most vet clinics) Apply the disinfectant after thoroughly cleaning all the soil from your gear

Fires in the heat of summer
Summer in the Coromandel is often usually very warm and very dry, while it may seem like a good idea to light a fire during those balmy evenings, there are some things to be aware of.
Public conservation land (land looked after by DOC) is subject to a year-round restricted fire season. However, when fire danger conditions are such that lighting a fire may put life or property at risk, Fire and Emergency NZ may declare a prohibited fire season.

Looking after our campgrounds:
- Remembering that dogs are not permitted in campsites unless a Dogs Permitted or Dogs on a leash symbol is visible
- Taking your rubbish with you. DOC has a Pack in, Pack out policy at most campsites. Plan to take your rubbish and recycling away when you leave.
- Not using drones in campsites, unless you have a permit from DOC
- Protecting our wildlife!
- Camping only in designated areas
- Washing dishes in a container, detergent can be harmful to aquatic creatures . Find out more!