This year’s wild weather has damaged many tramping tracks and over the past decade numerous winter weather events have caused widespread damage.

Last year on the Dusky and Kepler tracks, heavy snow was followed by significant wind that caused many trees to fall.

DOC is prepared for avalanche damage on known tracks and every year removes bridges during winter  to minimise weather impact.

DOC’s director of heritage and visitors Cat Wilson said the damage  is not limited to winter, however.

“Extreme weather events such as floods and cyclones can occur at any time of the year,” she said.

Widespread flooding in February 2020 in Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks damaged more than 78 tracks.

“Extreme wind events can also happen at any time, causing track damage and closures,” Wilson said, highlighting Cyclone Gabrielle in February.

The Heaphy Track had been partially closed since Cyclone Dovi thrashed the area in February 2022 but will fully reopen in time for the 2023 Great Walks season, which kicks off in October.

Planning for the Heaphy Track work had taken 18 months and included consideration for future-proofing the track for climate change.

DOC says as extreme weather events increase, its resources will be spread thinly and it’s likely damaged tracks will be closed for longer.