Mautohe Cathedral Cove closed as Cyclone Tam nears

Date:  16 April 2025

MetService has issued a Heavy Rain Warning for Coromandel in response to Cyclone Tam. The cyclone is expected to dump up to 250 mm of rain on the peninsula and pack winds of up to 140 kmh – resulting in a Wind Warning from the forecaster. MetService’s warnings are in effect from 12 am Thursday 18 April to 12 pm Friday 19 April. 

DOC Coromandel Senior Ranger Matt Flynn says it’s prudent to close tracks to Mautohe Cathedral Cove given the cyclone’s expected impact.

“As well as the wind and rain forecast, swells up to 4 m are predicted, meaning the waves are likely to reach the cliffs behind the cove’s beach.

“We strongly discourage people from visiting the cove over the next few days – the conditions make it unsafe.

“We do not want people getting hurt.”

Matt says the Mautohe Cathedral Cove closure will come into effect from 5 pm on Wednesday 16 April, and be in place until at least midday Saturday 19 April – when staff will carry out a site inspection and make further decisions about whether it is safe to reopen tracks to the beach.

Mautohe Cathedral Cove is one of Coromandel and New Zealand’s most picturesque and iconic coastal locations, famous for its rock arch. However, land around the cove is known to be potentially unstable with a noted geological and landslide risk after heavy rain events.

DOC’s Trigger Action Response Plan for Mautohe Cathedral Cove guides decision-making for track closures at the site.

Tracks to Mautohe Cathedral Cove were closed in February 2023 due to extensive damage caused by Cyclone Garbrielle. DOC repaired the tracks through the second half of 2024, and they reopened to visitors in December 2024.

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