Part of the rees dart track is closed .

The Queenstown DOC visitor centre was still telling us that the track was actually completely closed, but didn't seem to know where that bridge was on the map… Or where Chinamans Bluff was either, as usual they don't seem to be very useful :( We walked from Chinamans Bluff to Surveyors Flat 3 days ago and the steel bridge on Surveyors Creek has had major damage (bent) from a tree fall. Fording the creek was easy enough as water was only ~3cm deep, but I wouldn't recommend using the bridge although it is probably still strong enough to use it alone if you are stuck there during heavy rain. Also in case you are wondering, the Rees Road is closed at Oxburn 12 Mile Creek where 300 meters of road have been washed out, this info is buried deep in the bowels of the QLDC facebook feed, quite impractical really. You would have to walk that extra road length to the start of the track.

Yeah was in the area Kinloch/Glenorchy area last week walking Caples & Greenstone, when the area caught the tail end of cyclone that hit the west coast. Incredible thunderstorms overnight on the Wednesday, I was mightily relieved to drive back from Greenstones carpark before the worst of things the next morning. As it was a couple of creeks from the carpark to Kinloch though had risen noticeably weren't too bad, what was though was the gravel road from Kinloch to Glenorchy, much of it was a virtual stream, certainly the limit of rental car. Glad I set off early from Greenstone's Hut and was able to the hit road at about 10am, as certainly there was no way I'd got back that day, as the rain continued pretty much all day. I'd heard on the local news part of the Rees valley road section being washed away, but hadn't seen any news or links on the we since. It's certainly hidden away in that QLDC Facebook site! As to the Dart track bridge that's damaged, this might be the one? https://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/bridge-closed-dart-track/

The real damage is actually the Lower Snowy Creek bridge. Here my video: http://www.scene.co.nz/the-south-today/?video=5728636296001

Yeah @BdeB. saw your mugshot & name in the Mountain Scene today whilst waiting for my fish supper. World famous in Wanaka

Hi I have just joined the site, but struck gold already, thanks for the information on recent storm damage. I am planning to walk the Rees-Dart and Greenstone-Caples with my wife in early April so trying to see how plans might need to change to adapt to the recent damage. We both experienced trampers (Kiwis) based in Melbourne so we’ll see how things develop but will definitely still do something in the area. Cheers, Dave

Tramping boot = good thing, yeah ?.

Listening to hut wardens on rees dart yacking hut on radio 2 nights back. At least 1 bridge out and track officially closed. But few alpinists coming through saying track was fine & side rivers low enough to ford. So official status might have changed by now. Check with doc. Wardwns were being very fierce with trampers ignoring signs and walking it anyway. Though you suspect they have no standing in law ...

Hey guys - because of the track closure, I received this reply yesterday from the Queenstown VC: "A bridge was destroyed along the Dart track (in between Chinamans Bluff and Daleys Flat hut). We are hopeful the Rees track will re-open in the coming weeks, but the Dart track may be a long-term closure until a bridge is reinstalled."