Motorists in the Far North are being told to ignore suggestions they can drive on 90 Mile Beach or on unsealed private forestry roads to travel between Kaitaia and Cape Reinga as the only sealed route - on State Highway 1 - is blocked by a 20m wide slip.
The northern tip of the Far North has been cut off from the rest of the country, and telecommunications affected, after a washout, south of Pukenui between Whalers and Lamb roads, punched a 4.5m deep hole in the road yesterday afternoon.
The road remains closed north of Kaitaia.
Civil Defence spokesman Bill Hutchinson said earlier today that locals could use a private forestry road to travel in and out of the area, but it was not suitable for tourists in campervans.
However, Jacqui Hori-Hoult, Northland system manager at the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), discouraged people from following the advice, saying using those routes could be dangerous.
"The Transport Agency does not support suggestions on social media that motorists can drive on 90 Mile Beach or on unsealed private roads through the forest to get around the washout," she said.
"These are high-risk options for drivers and their vehicles if they are not experienced at driving in these conditions.
"We don't want local services being diverted to rescuing vehicles stuck in the sand or searching for people lost or broken down in the forest. Please do not use these routes."
NZTA is concentrating its resources on fixing the road.
"The Transport Agency is working closely with Civil Defence, emergency services and local authorities on a response to support those in the area who may be affected," Hori-Hoult said in a statement.
Telecommunications in the Far North have been affected by the slip.
Spark says a piece of fibre cable owned by lines company Chorus has been damaged in the washout.
A spokeswoman says it is affecting a couple of cell sites and a small number of land lines and broadband lines.
A Chorus technician has been sent out to see what can be done.
Vodafone and 2degrees customers may also be affected.
Meanwhile, a drop-in centre for people stranded by the slip has been set up in Pukenui.
The Houhora Big Game & Sports Fishing Club has been opened up for anyone who needs help, but no one turned up overnight, Hutchinson said.
Civil Defence will be providing information as tourists start heading south. This is likely to happen mid-morning, he said.
