One of Marlborough's most popular tramping tracks through the Queen Charlotte Sound remains closed while the Department of Conservation assesses the damage following the recent storm.
Queen Charlotte Track, Marlborough. Photo: Supplied/DOC.
Department of Conservation (DOC) senior ranger of heritage and visitors Margot Ferrier said heavy rain caused slips, windfalls and washed away a bridge on the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds, leaving some sections impassable.
"Because of the extensive damage and the difficult access, the whole trek has remained temporarily closed until we can organise to get some people out there to start making some repairs."
Next week, they hope to have several digger crews starting work on different sections, but it could be months before the track is re-opened in full.
DOC manages the track, which covers private land, road reserve administered by Marlborough District Council and public conservation land.
Ferrier said the commercial operators, including private accommodation providers, guiding companies and water taxis were faced with cancelling or rescheduling a number of bookings.
"So it's having quite a massive effect on the region and the Picton township and the Sounds as a whole, because the Queen Charlotte Track is one of Marlborough's iconic visitor attractions so we are well aware that the longer it remains closed, the more impact it has on people that have already had a fairly tough time with Covid and other things."
It would be a case of opening the track in sections, initially with water access only.
Meanwhile, things have almost returned to normal for the newest students to arrive at Outward Bound in Anakiwa.
Training manager Sharon Nicholas said some of its operational areas remained cut off due to restricted access along Queen Charlotte Drive which is still closed to the public.
Students making sandbags in Anakiwa. Photo: Supplied / Outward Bound
It meant in some cases, activities such as whitewater kayaking on the Pelorus, Rai and Wakamarina rivers could not go ahead as planned.
"We are thinking about how we can manage our environmental footprint by not driving too far, but at the same time trying to continue running the programmes and accessing the places that we normally do."
There were seven groups of students between the ages of 16 and 18 at the Anakiwa school when the region experienced heavy rainfall just over two weeks ago.
They all got involved, digging ditches and sandbagging to help direct the water flow and assisting neighbours with the clean up.
"There were gravel driveways that had been decimated and washed across the road so they went and helped remove all of the debris off the road and put it back into people's driveways.
"If you think about Outward Bound, its foundations include the opportunity of service and the idea of being able to help in the community, for real, was actually pretty amazing and pretty empowering and the students really got behind it which was awesome to see."