Family escapes as cliff collapses in Awakino Gorge

Saturday 25 July 2026 · 3 outlets · 2 reports · updated Sat 25 Jul, 5:53pm

In this story NZ Transport Agency

A family driving from New Plymouth to Auckland narrowly avoided a landslide on State Highway 3 early Saturday morning. A road worker alerted the trio to the danger, allowing them to turn back just seconds before a bank collapsed onto the road in the Awakino Gorge.

How they headlined it

4:04pm5:53pm

1. StuffSat 25 Jul, 4:04pm

   Family flees slip in Awakino Gorge in ‘scariest thing’ as they watch ‘bank coming down’ (opens in new tab)

   Also on The Post (opens in new tab)

2. 1NewsSat 25 Jul, 5:53pm

   'The cliff's coming down': Family's narrow escape in Awakino Gorge (opens in new tab)