Access
Waikato
Pakeho

Community action supports Pakeho’s future

Thanks to climbers’ donations and care, Pakeho’s access model is thriving. As summer approaches and visits increase, ensure you register for each visit and donate to support ongoing access and maintenance. 

It’s been almost a year since climbers returned to Pakeho under the new booking and donation system. A huge thank you to everyone who has booked responsibly, donated, and shown understanding around the limited daily capacity. 

Please request access permission online at least two days prior to visiting and await email confirmation. Do not visit unless you have received an email accepting your request. See thecrag.com for full access requirements and request form.

Climber in blue helmet on featured limestone cliff from below

Irisa Hudson on Calcium Snow at Pakeho. Photo: Aidan Sarginson via theCrag, licensed under CC-NCSA.

Access reminders and notices

We’re pleased to share that ACAT has negotiated an increased daily vehicle cap, moving from five to seven. This will enable more visits this summer. Remember: 

  • Please continue to use the online booking system and avoid contacting the landowner directly.  
  • Camping is not permitted at Pakeho, we recommend the nearby campground at Oparure Crag for those wishing to stay overnight

Where your donations go 

More than $7,000 in donations has been received since reopening. These funds directly support long-term access and maintenance. They are split as follows: 

  • 50% to the landowners – supporting continued access and their native replanting programme on the property. 
  • 40% to ACAT’s Crag Care Fund – funding access and safety improvements across Aotearoa, with any maintenance at Pakeho prioritised. 
  • 10% to ACAT – covering ongoing costs to maintain the booking and donation system. 

A sustainable model for the future 

Pakeho’s ‘suggested donation’ model was a real experiment, and we were unsure how climbers would respond. We are thrilled that most people are choosing to make the very reasonable $10 recommended donation.  

This system achieves a middle ground between mandatory access fees, and ‘free’ access that provides the landowner with no benefit and does nothing to support crag maintenance. Its success at Pakeho could provide a sustainable model for other high-traffic crags on private land.