Fees and bookings

Fees
Booking Great Walk Tickets
Commercial groups
Booking on behalf of others
Booking Terms and Conditions

Fees

Fees are charged per person, per night to stay in huts or campsites on the Routeburn Track. There are no fees for park entry.

During peak season (28 Oct - 29 Apr) you must pay your fees by purchasing Great Walk Tickets - a  booking is required. During off-peak season (May - Sep) a Backcountry Hut Pass or hut tickets are required. Fees must be paid before you start the track.

If you are considering walking the track during the off-peak season please read the winter walking information.  

• *The alpine sections of the Routeburn Track are not recommended for children under 10 years. Children 14 years or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
• Maximum stay periods apply. Peak: maximum 2 nights at huts and campsites. Off-peak: maximum 3 nights in huts, 5 nights at campsites.

Booking Great Walk Tickets

Obtain your Great Walk Tickets by booking the huts or campsites on the Routeburn Track. Great Walk Tickets ensure you a place in the huts or campsites you have booked. If you fail to obtain Great Walk Tickets the huts and campsites on the track will not be available to you. Bookings can be made online or manually via post, phone, fax, email or in person at DOC visitor centres nation wide.

Before booking

Make sure you read all the Routeburn Track information provided in this section and the terms and conditions below before making your booking.

Booking online

1. To start your online booking or to check availability check the Routeburn Track bookings.

2. Once you have completed your booking a confirmation letter will be emailed to you directly as well as being displayed on screen. Print it out and present it at the Booking Desk, Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, Te Anau or the Queenstown Regional Visitor Centre to collect your Great Walk Tickets. Failure to have your Great Walk Tickets with you on the track will result in a penalty fee of up to 100% of the Great Walk Tickets fee.

Manual bookings

1. Check the hut or campsite availability. Choose a preferred start date and one or more alternate start dates as your preferred choice may no longer be available by the time your booking form is received by the Booking Office.

2. Print the Routeburn Track booking form for the 2009 - 2010 season (PDF, 155K) or 2010 - 2011 season (PDF, 155K) complete it and forward it on to the Great Walks Booking Office. Alternatively bookings can be made in person at DOC visitor centres or selected offices.

3. A booking confirmation letter will be sent to you via post or email. If you make your booking in person, you will receive your confirmation letter at the time of booking. Present your confirmation letter at the Booking Desk, Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, Te Anau or the Queenstown Regional Visitor Centre to collect your Great Walk Tickets. Failure to have your Great Walk Tickets with you on the track will result in a penalty fee of up to 100%.

Note: Manual bookings cannot be processed without full payment of fees. A booking fee will apply.

Unbooked walkers

Walkers who do not have valid tickets for the huts or campsites will be charged a premium rate of up to100% of the adult rate regardless of age.

Commercial groups

Commercial and/or guided groups are not permitted to use Department of Conservation facilities/services unless authorised by the Department of Conservation via a Concession or other agreement.

Concessions are required for, but not restricted to: guiding or accompanying groups (including tramping, walking, fishing, hunting, climbing/ski tours, kayaking/canoeing); transport services; commercial education or instruction activities. Management plans for each national park set out what concession activity is permitted.

Find out about Concessions.

Booking on behalf of others

• Commercial Agents wishing to make multiple bookings for facilities/services on behalf of customers must hold an Agent agreement with or obtain permission from the Department of Conservation. 
• A booking is required for each adult, youth, child and infant intending to use a facility or service and the given name, family name, age, gender and nationality of each party member must be entered at the time of booking.
• Bookings are not transferable from one person/entity to another.
• Names listed on the booking as using facility/ies and/or service/s may not be substituted unless approved via a Department of Conservation office. Substitution of all or the majority of names listed on a booking will not be approved. Those persons named on the booking may be required as proof of identity when collecting tickets or accessing facilities/services booked. Accepted forms of ID are a passport, driver’s licence, credit card or student ID.

Booking Terms and Conditions

Read the Booking Terms and Conditions for general information, age ranges, prices, discounts, penalty rates and the alterations and cancellations policy.

Bookings not meeting the Terms and Conditions are treated as invalid, and will be reversed (cancelled) by the Department of Conservation. 

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