An increase in emergency calls for assistance by walkers and hikers becoming stranded on a popular walking track has caused Hawke's Bay Police to issue a warning.
The track from Clifton Motor Camp out to the Gannet Colony at Cape Kidnappers covers an approximate 19 kilometre return hike along mainly beach access with a short steep climb up to the gannet colony itself on the plateau.
Hawke's Bay Police Search & Rescue, Detective Senior Sergeant Marty James said "while this is an exceptional walk for locals and visitors to the area, people need to be aware of the risks associated with it".
Due to the coastal conditions including steep high unstable cliffs on one side and the ocean on the other, walkers can face some unexpected obstacles and experiences along this track.
"Land slips, slippery rock formations, and the continually shifting tidal and swell conditions can cause people to get caught out and stranded if they have not prepared properly before embarking on the journey," James said.