DOC accommodation price changes 2022/2023
Introduction
We're updating accommodation pricing for the 2022/23 booking year (1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023). This is to improve cost recovery, spread demand and reflect the value of our facilities.For this round of pricing reviews, DOC has mostly focused on campsites while introducing some new approaches to improve cost recovery, better reflect the value of facilities and help regulate demand for popular places. The changes are listed below.
There are no changes to Great Walks prices or to prices for the vast majority of huts.
Download this information in a printable factsheet (PDF, 418K)
Campsites
As part of DOC’s regular price reviews, there will be some small changes to campsite prices for the upcoming booking season. The new prices are based on cost-inflation adjustments or high-demand to better reflect the value of the experience and assist with improving costs recovery from users of the facilities.
Most of these campsites can be booked all-year round, and the new prices will be automatically applied when booking.
Standard Campsites
Standard category campsites fees are increasing to bring these more in line with inflation and council campsites.
| Campsite | 2021/2022 price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| All Standard, Non-Powered Campsites | $8.00 per adult / $4.00 per child |
$10.00 per adult / $5.00 per child |
| Kahikatea Campsite (self-contained powered sites only) | $11.00 per adult / $5.50 per child | $13.00 per adult / $6.50 per child |
Backcountry campsites
Ten of 55 backcountry campsites will have new prices for consistent pricing across adjacent and similar facilities. This will assist with improving costs recovery from the users of the facilities.
| Campsite | 2021/2022 price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| Dancing Camp Campsite | $10.00 per adult / $5.00 per child |
$12.50 per adult / $6.25 per child |
| Crosbies Hut Backcountry Campsite▲ | $5.00 per adult / $2.50 per child | $7.50–$10 per adult / $3.75–$5 per child |
| Hooker Hut Campsite | $7.50 per adult / $3.50 per child | $12.50 per adult / $6.25 per child |
| Billygoat Basin Campsite | $5.00 per adult / $2.50 per child | $6.00 per adult / $3.00 per child |
▲Hut/Campsite price changes seasonally or on weekends.
| Campsite | 2021/2022 price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| Schoolhouse Bay Campsite | $6.00 per adult / $3.00 per child |
$10.00 per adult / $5.00 per child |
| Camp Bay Campsite* | $8.00 per adult / $4.00 per child | $10.00 per adult / $5.00 per child |
| Bay of Many Coves Campsite | $6.00 per adult / $3.00 per child | $10.00 per adult / $5.00 per child |
| Black Rock Campsite | $6.00 per adult / $3.00 per child | $10.00 per adult / $5.00 per child |
| Davies Bay Campsite | $6.00 per adult / $3.00 per child | $10.00 per adult / $5.00 per child |
| Cowshed Bay Campsite▲ | $8.00–$15.00 per adult / $4.00–$7.50 per child | $10.00 per adult / $5.00 per child |
▲Hut/Campsite price changes seasonally or on weekends
* Standard category campsite
Seasonal price increases for popular campsites
Seasonal pricing is implemented to 15 of the most popular bookable campsites outside of the Great Walks. This will encourage the use of alternative campsites at peak times of year. The increase in the seasonal price for these campsites will be $2 to $3 per adult per night ($1 to $1.50 per under 17s). This new price is applicable during peak season from 26 December to 8 February. At two campsites the pricing has been reduced outside of peak season.
| Campsite | Regular price | Peak season price (26 December to 8 February) |
|---|---|---|
| Kerr Bay Campsite, Momorangi Bay Campsite |
Non-powered sites: $20.00 per adult / $10.00 per child Powered sites: $23.00 per adult / $11.50 per child |
Non-powered sites: $22.00 per adult / $11.00 per child Powered sites: $25.00 per adult / $12.50 per child |
| Pelorus Bridge (Kahikatea Flat) Campsite |
Non-powered sites: $20.00 per adult / $10.00 per child Powered sites: $20.00 per adult / $10.00 per child |
Non-powered sites: $22.00 per adult / $11.00 per child Powered sites: $22.00 per adult / $11.00 per child |
|
$15.00 per adult / $7.50 per child |
$18.00 per adult / $9.00 per child |
|
| Waikawau Bay Campsite |
Non-powered sites: $15.00 per adult / $7.50 per child Powered sites: $18.00 per adult / $9.00 per child |
Non-powered sites: $18.00 per adult / $9.00 per child Powered sites: $21.00 per adult / $10.50 per child |
Campsites with price reductions
Two campsites were identified to benefit from decreased prices during low season. This will encourage more people to use these campsites during less quieter times of year. The higher price will only be charged during the peak summer period.
| Campsite | 2021/2022 price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| Kenepuru Head Campsite |
Labour weekend to 30 April: May 1 to before Labour weekend: |
26 December to 8 February: 09 February to 25 December: |
| Cowshed Bay Campsite |
Labour weekend to 30 April: May 1 to before Labour weekend: |
26 December to 8 February: 09 February to 25 December: |
Campsites with minimum stay requirements
Minimum night stay requirements are used to manage high demand during peak periods and make sure more people get a turn to stay at very popular campsites. DOC currently uses these at five (of over 300) campsites to help more people get an opportunity to stay at times of year where demand for campsites exceeds availability (during the Christmas/New Year period).
They are only used at DOC’s busiest campsites and for very specific dates, so most DOC campsites and dates are unaffected.
| Campsite | Current minimum night stay requirement and applicable dates | New minimum night stay requirement and applicable dates |
|---|---|---|
| French Pass Campsite |
2 nights (30 December to 2 January) |
2 nights (27 December to 2 January) |
| Momorangi Bay Campsite |
5 nights (26 December to 5 January) |
4 nights (27 December to 5 January) |
| Pelorus Bridge Campsite |
3 nights (26 December to 4 January) |
3 nights (27 December to 4 January) |
| Waikahoa Bay Campsite |
5 nights (26 December to 11 January) |
3 nights (26 December to 11 January) |
| Uretiti Campsite |
3 nights (28 December to 1 January) |
(No change) 3 nights (28 December to 1 January) |
Campsites with minimum site charges
Minimum site charges are currently used at three DOC campsites. The applicable dates are shortened at two of the three campsites, and dates extended through to Waitangi weekend at the extremely popular Tōtaranui Campsite in Abel Tasman National Park.
| Campsite | Current minimum site charge | Current applicable dates | New minimum site charge | New applicable dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Momorangi Bay Campsite | $40.00 |
26 December to 10 February |
$44.00* |
27 December to 11 January |
| Pelorus Bridge Campsite | $40.00 | 26 December to 11 January | $44.00* | 27 December to 11 January |
| Tōtaranui Campsite | $30.00 | 21 December to 26 January | $36.00* | 26 December to 8 February |
*Price increase due to seasonal pricing
A fee of two adults will apply when a campsite is occupied but no one is staying there (for example, when a site is occupied by a vacant tent or vehicle). The fee is set at the average occupancy of DOC’s campsites, currently two adults. This replaces the current $15 flat fee applied at some campsites. This is to ensure campsites are available to be enjoyed by as many campers as possible. This fee applies to all DOC campsites.
Where applicable, powered sites will remain at a $3 premium over the non-powered site fee.
Campsite Pass updates
Few updates to the Campsite Pass and terms and conditions:
- After purchase, the time to use the pass is reduced from six months to one month.
- For stays after 1 July there is a $3 fee per Campsite Pass user to book a powered site.
Based on the $2 to $3 campsite price increases following the recent price review, and analysis of use of the Camp Pass, the new prices for the Monthly and Annual passes are as follows:
| Campsite Pass type | 2021/2022 price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly / 7-day pass | $55 |
Discontinued |
| Monthly pass | $80 | $95 |
| Annual pass | $140 | $195 |
These will be effective starting 1 July. Full list of terms and conditions.
Price changes for popular huts and lodges
A few price changes to huts and sole occupancy lodges will come into effect this year following monitoring and review of price changes implemented last year.
General price increases
Brewster Hut and Hooker Hut will have a general price increase across the week due to strong, sustained demand.
| Facility | 2021/2022 price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| Brewster Hut | $30 per adult / $15 per youth |
$40 per adult / $20 per youth |
| Hooker Hut | $15 per adult/$7.50 per youth | $25 per adult/$12.50 per youth |
Weekend price changes
Weekend pricing was introduced last year to encourage people to visit popular huts mid-week if they can, to free up space in the weekend and mean more people have the chance to visit these huts. After reviewing the impacts of this approach, we have seen some huts benefitting from demand shifting to weekdays and sustained high-use across all associated facilities. Based on this review, DOC is making some slight adjustments to prices at these facilities.
| Facility | 2021/2022 price | New price |
|---|---|---|
| Rod Donald Hut |
Sunday to Thursday: $15 per adult / $7.50 per youth/child Friday and Saturday: $20 per adult / $10 per youth/child |
Monday to Thursday: $15 per adult / $7.50 per youth/child Friday to Sunday: $20 per adult / $10 per youth/child |
| Woolshed Creek Hut |
Sunday to Friday: $15 per adult/ $7.50 per youth Saturday: $20 per adult/ $10 per youth |
Sunday to Thursday: $15 per adult / $7.50 per youth Friday and Saturday: $20 per adult / $10 per youth |
| Lighthouse Cottage |
$65 for up to 4 people 2-night minimum stay for Friday/Saturday from Dec 1 to Apr 30 |
Sunday to Thursday: $65 per night for up to 4 people Friday and Saturday: $80 per night for up to 4 people |