A mystery driver had a lucky escape when a car was left hanging on a shrub above a 50m drop near Cape Reinga.
The Pukenui Fire Brigade was called to Tapotupotu about 6.30pm on Wednesday, arriving to find a Subaru stationwagon had slid off a sharp corner about halfway down the hill to the campground.
It was balanced precariously on a manuka tree at the top of a 50m-high, 45-degree slope.
Deputy fire chief Guy Herring said no one was present and the car was poised at such a steep angle that fuel was leaking from the petrol cap.
It was too dangerous to try moving the car so it was left to a tow truck yesterday.