One thing that every single person climbing at Paynes needs to remember is that it is a Department of Conservation (DOC) Scenic Reserve, and as such, no matter how much fun you might be having, the environment and its protection should always come first.

The cliffs of Paynes Ford are part of a large outcropping of the limestone bedrock that forms much of lowland Golden Bay. A commonly seen feature of this limestone is something called a "flowstone", where mineral-rich waters are running down the faces and slowly harden layer-by-layer, until it looks like the stone is "flowing" downards. Some of these flowstone formations are still active and rely on groundwater seepage. They may look like fun lines to climb, but they are extremely fragile, slow growing and slimey. In short, DO NOT CLIMB THEM.

The many varieties of plant life range from the tiny rare plants growing in the unique dry overhang environment, to tree ferns and big natives. These are under continuous threat from you, the climber, through trampling, breaking, leaning, and most especially in the summer months, from fire. Ropes falling into the middle of tree ferns causes them to eventually die. Please, keep to the tracks, ask before you go clearing any annoying small or in-the-way plants, and please please PLEASE, DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR CIGARETTE BUTTS.

The toilets are located near the entrance to the reserve and must be used; a new one at the south end should be in place for the 09/10 season. Again, keep to the tracks and those Kiwi's who have a habit of breaking the tops of plants over, don't. Paynes is a scenic reserve owned by the New Zealand Government, because it represents an important and unusual ecosystem. The Department of Conservation allows climbing on existing routes, but not the bolting of new routes. For those interested in the ecology there are copies of the recent survey of the bluff systems of Paynes Ford available to read at the Hangdog Office.

Thanks team, let's keep it green.