Police have cordoned off a road and detectives are investigating after a man was found dead in a public toilet in a popular reserve in suburban Tauranga.

The nature of the death at McCardles Bush in Coach Dr, Otūmoetai on Saturday remains unclear and police are staying tight-lipped, saying only it was a sudden death and there is no risk to the wider public.

 “Police are attending a sudden death in the Coach Dr, Otūmoetai area,” a police spokeswoman said in a statement.

“The circumstances surrounding the death have not yet been fully established, however at this stage police do not believe there is any risk to the wider public.”

A woman living nearby told the Herald an ambulance was at the scene earlier on Saturday but has since departed. At 1pm the dead-end road leading to a well-used walking track remained cordoned off.

Police appear to be focusing their attention on the public toilets about 100m from the start of the walking track. The woman said detectives, some wearing rubber gloves, could be seen inside the cordon.

St John referred a request for comment to police.