That was the question many were asking as the hiking season takes off and three of the most popular walks in the Wanaka region remain closed.
Diamond Lake was shut following a rockfall in May and is expected to open at the end of the month, the Rob Roy glacier walk was closed following a landslip on the track in June and there is still no indication when it will reopen and Roys Peak will remain shut until November 10.
Wanaka i-Site manager Jaimee McGrath said in the past week they had seen a rise in the number of tourists coming to Wanaka to hike and ''many did seem aware the Roys Peak track was about to close''.
Department of Conservation senior ranger Anita Middlemiss said staff blocked the Roys Peak track car park entrance yesterday morning and she was pleased that so far the public was meeting the legal obligations in the Roys Peak easement.
''The closure is in place while the landholder is lambing and in-lamb ewes and newborn lambs are sensitive to disturbance during this time'', she said.
Alpha Burn high country station owner Duncan McRae said the sheep were now on the hill and would start lambing today.
He said due to the car park being extended during lambing time last year there was someone on duty every day turning hikers away.
''We will have to wait and see what eventuates over the next couple of days,'' he said.
In the meantime, the Department of Conservation has announced the Great Walks season starts this month with different walks opening on varying dates.
This year New Zealand's 10th great walk, the Paparoa Track, will open for walking and mountain biking on December 1.
