The flood- and cyclone-hit attractions that need your support

As the clean-up from the North Island floods and Cyclone Gabrielle continues, tourism operators in some of New Zealand’s hardest-hit areas are welcoming back visitors, or preparing to.

Below are six of the many businesses which could use some extra support in the wake of the storms, from a small Coromandel outfit offering expeditions to the under-the-radar “Vanishing Volcanoes” to a beloved brewery in Hawke’s Bay.

Be sure to check out Waka Kotahi, the New Zealand Transport Agency website, for road closures before setting out.

Coromandel Ocean Adventures, Tairua

A relatively new business based in the small town of Tairua, which was completely cut off when the cyclone hit and without power for days, Coromandel Ocean Adventures is “desperately in need of support”, a spokesperson for the local tourist board said.

Local lads Richie McNabb, a third-generation boatman, and Hayden Smith, a marine biology expert, aim to show visitors lesser-known parts of the area, including the jagged, Jurassic Park-like peaks of the Alderman Islands (aka the Vanishing Volcanoes).

Clad in regenerating forest, the island quartet is a nature reserve home to tuatara, skinks, dozens of native birds, and so many marine species they’re considered one of the country’s best open water dive sites.

The two-hour Alderman Islands tour also takes in other hidden gems such as Boat Harbour (Taputuatahi Bay) – a haven for kiwi and kauri – and Shoe and Slipper islands.

Meanwhile, the 90-minute Coastal and Island Classic tour shows off secret coves, volcanic islands, and wildlife such as little blue penguins, diving petrels, gannets, dolphins, seals and whales.

Spellbound, Waitomo

Slips, flooding and road closures from the pre-Gabrielle storm have seen Waitomo operators suffer, although all issues impacting visitors have now been resolved.

Just down the road from the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Spellbound is a small, family-run business offering a longer boat ride – 20 minutes compared to Waitomo’s five – through a glow-worm lit stretch of the Mangawhitikau Cave.

With the incandescent larvae seemingly occupying every square inch of its walls and low ceiling, it’s easy to see why it’s known as the Spellbound Cave.

On Glowworm and Cave Explorer tours, visitors also walk through an abandoned river gorge to the Spirit Cave, where sinkholes serve as skylights and the skeletons of ancient animals crumble into the dry riverbed.

FourB, Taupō

These mountain bike specialists can no longer take visitors to Taupō’s most popular mountain bike park, Craters, which was severely damaged in the cyclone, but are still running tours on the Great Lake Trails.

Hugging the shore of New Zealand’s largest lake, the trails take in native forest, wetlands, waterfalls and beaches with panoramic lake views.

FourB enables cyclists to tackle the 90km trail in sections or in its entirety over two to three days, offering various drop-off and pick-up points. If you’re spending a night or two, they can also sort your accommodation and food.

Giant Brewing, Havelock North

This independent brewery and pub served as a safe house for flood and cyclone refugees, while its commercial kitchen was one of many used to keep the hard-hit community of Hawke’s Bay fed.

Owner Chris Ormand said Giant Brewery, and others in the local hospitality and tourism sectors, are ready to welcome back visitors, saying “tourism here will be quite pleased to see people coming and visiting”.

Much of Hawke’s Bay is now safe to visit, although some roads in and around the region remain closed so, again, check Waka Kotahi before setting off. While more than 80% of operators the local tourism board had spoken with as of February 23 were operating as normal, it recommends checking with them before turning up. You can find a list of open accommodation providers, operators, wineries and eating and drinking spots on the Hawke’s Bay Tourism website.

Giant Brewing offers up both its own beers and a rotating list of guest brews from other independent Kiwi breweries, along with Hawke’s Bay wines and ciders.

Putting a modern spin on the classic Kiwi pub, the open kitchen turns out a mix of bar snacks, burgers, healthy bowls, and main dishes ranging from beer-battered fish and chips to Asian-inspired pork belly laksa.

Auckland Zoo

Skinks, alligators and bearded dragons were among the animals to be evacuated before water rose to chest height at Auckland zoo in late January.

The decision to move the animals before floodwaters rose saw the vast majority of zoo residents survive, although the bodies of two small birds – a zebra finch and a kōare – were recovered.

After a massive clean-up effort, the zoo partially reopened on February 4, with the particularly hard-hit South American Rainforest and Te Wao Nui tracks welcoming back visitors on February 10 and 22 respectively.

A mini Amazon in Tāmaki Makaurau, the South American Rainforest area is home to Galápagos tortoises, acrobatic spider monkeys, handlebar-moustached emperor tamarins and flame-coloured golden lion tamarins.

Te Wao Nui, meanwhile, lets you get up-close-and-personal with some of New Zealand’s rarest – and hardest to spot – species, including cheeky kea, chunky takahē and the elusive kiwi.

Goldfields Railway, Karangahake Gorge

With the Hauraki Rail Trail damaged between Waikino and Waihī, this heritage train is providing a vital link for cyclists, enabling them to make it all the way through the Karangahake Gorge.

The 30-minute journey between Waikino and Waihī follows the Ohinemuri River, offering spectacular views of the eastern end of the gorge.

Enjoy a Devonshire scone in the country-style café occupying Waikino Station before boarding or start in Waihī, and fuel up at the café before picking up the trail in Waikino and continuing on towards Paeroa.

The Sculpture Park at Waitakarau Arboretum, Tauwhare

One of New Zealand’s largest outdoor galleries, this former quarry now features more than 100 sculptures across its Eden-like grounds.

Dorothy and John Wakeling bought the 17.5 hectare property in 1991 with the aim of rehabilitating the land with plants and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.

These days, a 2km loop trail takes in sculptures set amid towering cliffs, small waterfalls, a stream, ponds and more than 20,000 trees and shrubs from around the world.

Cyclone Gabrielle forced the park’s closure for 11 days, but it reopened to the public on February 23.