Trampers will have to wait a little bit longer to experience New Zealand’s newest Great Walk.
The Paparoa Track, scheduled to open at the end of September 2019, has been postponed to December 1.
The change in schedule follows an earlier postponement announced last September, which pushed the opening date from April 2019, to September.
Delays have been put down to unexpectedly difficult terrain on the Paparoa Tops, DOC said in a release.
DOC Project Director Tom Hopkins said bookings are expected to open in June for the 2019/2020 summer season.
The track is the first Great Walk designed for mountain bikers and walkers, and is being built in conjunction with the Pike29 Memorial Track.
According to DOC, 35.4km (around 65 percent) of the 55km track is completed.