The Guardians of Lake Hāwea are warning the public to take care when walking on the Gladstone Track on the lakefront, after part of the clay cliffs collapsed on Thursday (October 15).

The cliffs remain unstable and people should take care when walking under or close to the cliffs, the guardians said.

Richard Spence was in the right place at the right time to photograph the cliff, on the town side of Urquhart’s Bay, collapsing at 3.40pm on Thursday.

Guardian John Langley told the Wanaka App such collapses have occurred before, notably one below Flora Dora terrace in the Lake Hāwea township.

The cliffs’ instability is caused by the cliffs being undercut by wave action, wind erosion, and gravity, John said.

“It’s a natural process and will continue until the southern shore has the appropriate angle (as elsewhere),” he said.

Contact Energy has signs on the beach warning of the danger from the unstable cliffs.

PHOTO: Richard Spence