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NPDC looking after our maunga this summer holiday season

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PUBLISHED: 19 DEC 2022
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People planning get a closer look at Maunga Taranaki this summer need to be prepared for delays with traffic controls being reintroduced at the Egmont Road entrance to from Boxing Day.

NPDC will once again operating a ‘one car out, one car in’ system to help ease congestion on the road up to the North Egmont Visitor Centre during the busy summer season.

The system was first introduced in 2019 when the road and car parked were clogged with traffic, as the overcrowding created a safety hazard and posed a threat to the fragile alpine landscapes close to where people park. 

“It’s a system that’s worked well to manage the limited numbered of parking spaces available at the maunga’s north entrance while still keeping the national park accessible for visitors during the busy summer season,” says NPDC Manager Transport Rui Leitao

“Our maunga is precious to everyone who lives in Taranaki, and we want to make sure that its special character is preserved".

Closures will start about 6am (when the main car park is likely to be full) until mid-afternoon on the following dates:

  • Daily from Boxing Day to Sunday 8 January.
  • Weekends only from 9 January to the end of February (including Waitangi Day).
  • Taranaki Anniversary Day, Anzac Day and Easter weekend.

The system would also be put in place outside these dates if traffic demand requires it, but not used on days of low demand such as when it’s raining.

Rui recommends that groups hire a commercial shuttle for drop-off and pick-up as these vehicles will have unrestricted access.

“If people find there’s a wait to access the national park, they could look at one of the other park entrances or explore other walks, such as around Lake Mangamahoe or at Purangi Reserve – the New Plymouth i-SITE at Puke Ariki has lots of recommendations for outdoor activities,” he says.

NPDC is working on a long-term solution to the traffic issues by building a public car park on Egmont Road, outside the national park that will have facilities for commercial shuttles.

 

Fast facts

  • NPDC looks after 1,278km of roads in the district, including 960km of rural roads.
  • We are investing $23.5m on road maintenance and renewals for 2022/23.

 

Caption: The Egmont Road access to Te Papakura o Taranaki national park this summer will have a 'one out/one in' traffic management plan in place for private vehicles.


We have lots of iconic natural areas to explore – check them out in our flyer.

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Page last updated: 09:44pm Wed 21 December 2022

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