Visitors ignore warning and risk death

Cathedral Cove beach-goers disregard the warning signs and step over the string barrier to walk through to the bigger beach. Photo / Alan Gibson

White string across the Coromandel's iconic Cathedral Cove rock archway has failed to stop visitors from posing for pictures where the Department of Conservation says they are at risk of rocks falling and killing them.

Big warning signs, in six languages, tell visitors to keep away as it is a "known rockfall hazard area".

But yesterday, there was a steady stream of people walking through it, with some stopping to pose for photos.

The archway connects two east coast beaches and is a favourite spot listed in many travel guides. Scenes for the Chronicles of Narnia films were shot nearby.

But enough rocks to fill a trailer fell from its ceiling several months ago and DoC has closed access this summer.

Visitor Reece Chippendale walked through yesterday and said it was safe as long as people stuck to the sides.

DoC's "barrier" of posts and string had failed to convince him.

"You really think that's going to stop people?

"If anything, it looks terrible. It looks cheap. Realistically, all they're doing is covering themselves [from liability] ... Common sense prevails."

Joel Green, a visitor from Auckland, said DoC's warnings weren't a big deal.

"It's an icon of the Coromandel coast so it will be used constantly. You could have a rockfall but it's unlikely."

Others, despite tripping over the string fence, said they had not realised they weren't supposed to walk through.

A local bach owner said DoC had been too blunt with its restrictions. He preferred two marked walkways along the edges of the archway.

"If they had been reasonable about it, people might show a bit of respect," he said.

With the archway closed, only the smaller of the two beaches is accessible by foot.

The man said it was packed yesterday and it would have been worse if everyone had followed the rules.

"It would be almost dangerous. DoC needs to get real."

DoC Waikato spokesman Des Williams said the archway was a hazard and the department had done a lot to make people aware of the dangers.

"We're not standing there on 24-hour guard with rifles cocked at the chest," Mr Williams said.

"There's only a certain amount you can do. When you say it's dangerous and you can kill yourself - if people don't understand that, I don't think it's our problem."

Few would risk death for the beach on the other side, he said.

"Common sense has to come in. Most people would say, 'I'm not going to risk my life', but 1 per cent might, and good on them."

Overseas visitors to the beach hesitated to flout DoC's rules.

Frank Sabine, from Germany, said his trip had been a bit disappointing, given the rain last week and the archway closed yesterday.

"Everything's broken," he said, but it was "stupid" for people to ignore the restrictions.

"We are strangers to this land and normally you respect the rules and customs."

Maria Castellino, from Argentina, said she had a good enough view on the small beach without risking her life.

"[But] it's weak to have [only] the sign. There needs to be someone there telling you not to cross."