Department of Conservation

Hector's dolphins

Image: Dina Engel and Andreas Maecker | ©

30 Years of Great Walks

This year marks the 30th anniversary of New Zealand’s Great Walks.

14 May 2022

World Migratory Bird Day: dim lights for our manu at night

World Migratory Bird Day is an International Day of Awareness as birds around the world begin their seasonal migrations. This year the theme focuses on light pollution.

Each year, millions of birds die because of light pollution. It is a pervasive, global, and increasing problem for our taonga

Great Walks bookings opening

Great Walks bookings for the 2022/23 season have opened.

Planning your trip under COVID-19 settings

Assess the COVID-19 risk when planning to stay in our huts and campsites.

Whenua Hou diving petrel/kuaka

The Whenua Hou diving petrel/kuaka is New Zealand’s 'newest' bird species, being only described as recently as 2018. The species only breeds on Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) and is Threatened-Nationally Critical.

Help us improve conservation management planning and concessions legislation

We want to hear your views on proposals within the Conservation Management and Processes Bill to improve conservation management planning and concessions (the permissions system). Submissions close on 30 June 2022.

Great Walks in demand as they hit 30

Demand for bookings over New Zealand’s 30th Great Walks season is strong, with Kiwis taking up more than 85% of spots, says the Department of Conservation.