Most of the Mauao base track will reopen today at 5pm after slips and scouring from Cyclone Cook forced its closure last month.

The track will be accessible from the Mount Maunganui beach side of the mountain, however, visitors are still not able to complete the loop and will need to turn back upon reaching Pilot Bay.

'We are still investigating options for repairing the damage done to the Pilot Bay side by ex-Cyclone Debbie,” says Tauranga City Council Parks and Recreation manager Mark Smith.

'Engineers are still assessing the site, which is difficult given the terrain. They are looking at a number of options to find the most cost effective and efficient way forward. We're expecting to know more by the end of the month.”

Meanwhile council is asking visitors not to ignore closures.

'It's not just a safety risk – by ignoring the closure you may do further damage to the track and surrounding area, which could mean it takes even more time to repair.”

Debris has been removed from slips, and 150 tonnes of rock was put in place to rebuild and resurface the track.

Council also warns there may be short-term closures early next week during daylight hours while the last of the repairs are completed.