Introduction

These reports inform DOC staff about how things are tracking around the country and where best to focus DOC’s heritage and visitor work.

DOC’s visitor insights reports look at where people are going outdoors, how people feel about their experiences, trends in visitor activity and any visitor impacts observed.

They are based off the best information available at the time and so locations and date ranges for different data sets can vary (eg DOC’s activity counters given the data from these are manually downloaded).

Understanding 2022/23 visitor activity

This report looks at visitor observations and behaviours at popular sites, huts, campsites and walking tracks over 2022/23 (1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023).

It builds on previous visitor insight reports, looking at visitor activity in the outdoors and the impacts observed. This slide pack is similar but different from previous visitor insight reports. This is because DOC does not have current activity counter data reporting available.

Understanding 2022/23 visitor activity (PDF, 3,351K)

Summer 2022/23 visitor insights report

This report looks at visitor observations, attitudes and behaviours at popular sites, huts, campsites and walking tracks over summer 2022/23 (1 December 2022 to 28 February 2023).

It builds on previous visitor insight reports, looking at visitor activity in the outdoors and the impacts observed. This summer slide pack is similar but different from previous visitor insight reports. This is because DOC does not have current activity counter data reporting available.

2022/23 visitor insights report (PDF, 6,953K)

2021/22 visitor insights report

The report looks at survey, activity counter and bookings data between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022.

The information provides a snapshot of where people went across conservation areas, who is visiting and the quality of their experience. It also provides a regional breakdown of findings.

2021/22 visitor insights report (PDF, 8,352K)

Summer 2021/22 visitor insights report

This report looks at visitor numbers, attitudes and behaviours at popular sites, huts, campsites and walking tracks over summer 2021/22 (1 December 2021 to 28 February 2022). It shows most New Zealanders got outdoors during this time despite a slight drop in numbers which reflects the COVID-19 outbreak, including Omicron.

The top benefit cited by New Zealanders in getting outdoors was ‘taking time out to enjoy the peace and quiet’, suggesting a greater focus on mental and emotional wellbeing. The second and third benefits sought were ‘enjoyment and fun’ and ‘physical exercise and fitness’.

Summer 2021/22 visitor insights report (PDF, 10,573K)

2020/21 visitor insights report

The report looks at bookings and activity counter data between 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. It also covers visitor survey results undertaken between November 2020 and May 2021.

2020/21 visitor insights report (PDF, 1,852)

Summer 2020/21 visitor insights report

This report looks at where people went and what impacts were observed over summer 2020/21.

Some data gaps in this report are due to the impacts of COVID-19 on visitor trends and demographics, meaning formulas DOC used previously to calculate numbers are not viable this year. 

Summer 2020/21 visitor insights report (PDF, 10.201K)

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