Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park Visitor Centre
Image: Mike Langford | ©

Visitor centres

Introduction

Contact your nearest DOC visitor centre for the latest information and our best tips for your visit to New Zealand's conservation areas.

Check if a DOC visitor centre is open

Call before visiting as some visitor centres may have to physically close due to staff shortages.

We have DOC visitor centres nationwide, staffed by DOC rangers with first-hand local knowledge about conservation places and activities. Visit us for local information, bookings, and hut tickets. 

Some i-SITEs and other visitor centres also provide DOC services. They are listed on this page.

If there is no DOC visitor centre in your region, search for an i-SITE.

On public holidays: Visitor centre hours vary. Contact the centre to confirm if they're open.


Auckland

Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 9 379 6476
Email:   aucklandvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   No physical address
Contact via email or phone
Postal Address:   PO Box 32242
Devonport
Auckland 0744

Contact hours:

  • 8 am – 12 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

If you need urgent help outside of those hours contact Kauaeranga Visitor Centre.


Bay of Plenty

Rotorua i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   rotoruavisitor@doc.govt.nz
Address:   1167 Fenton St
Rotorua
Postal Address:   Private Bag 3007
Rotorua

Rotorua i-SITE Visitor Information Centre

Open hours:

  • 8:30 am – 5 pm daily

DOC staff present:

  • April – October: 9 am – 1 pm Monday to Friday
  • November – March: 9 am – 4 pm Monday to Saturday


Canterbury

Ōtautahi / Christchurch Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 379 4082
Email:   christchurchvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   No physical address
Contact via email or phone
Postal Address:  

Note: From 10 November 2022 we are no longer open to the public. Contact us by email or phone. 

Closed from 26 December 2022 to 8 January 2023.

Contact hours:

  • 9 am – 4 pm Tuesday to Friday, closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday

If you need urgent help outside of these hours contact Arthur's Pass National Park Visitor Centre.

Arthur's Pass National Park Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 318 9211
Email:   arthurspassvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   104 West Coast Road
Arthur's Pass
Postal Address:   PO Box 51008
Arthur's Pass 7654

Open hours:

  • October to April: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm daily
  • May to September: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm daily
Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 435 1186
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   mtcookvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   1 Larch Grove
Aoraki/Mt Cook
Postal Address:   PO Box 5
Aoraki/Mt Cook 7946

Open hours:

  • November to April: 8:30 am – 5 pm daily
  • May to October: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm daily

Visit the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre


Central North Island

Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 7 892 3729
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   tongarirovc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   Whakapapa Village
State Highway 48
Mount Ruapehu
Postal Address:   PO Box 71029
Whakapapa Village
Mount Ruapehu 3951

Open hours:

  • 8 am – 4:30 pm daily (Closed Christmas Day)

Visit the Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre


Coromandel

Kauaeranga Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 7 867 9080
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   kauaerangavc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   995C Kauaeranga Valley Road
Thames 3577
Postal Address:   PO Box 343
Thames 3540

Open hours:

  • 8:30 am – 4 pm daily

Visit the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre.


East Coast

Te Urewera Centre
Phone:   06 837 3900
Email:   teureweravc@ngaituhoe.iwi.nz
Address:   Te Kura Whenua
6249 Lake Road/SH38
Waikaremoana 4195
Te Urewera
Postal Address:   Kaitawa DOC Mailshed
Kaitawa Village
RD 5
Wairoa 4195

Open hours:

  • 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Monday to Friday


Fiordland

Te Rua-o-te-moko / Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 249 7924
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   fiordlandvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   Fiordland National Park
Visitor Centre
Lakefront Drive
Te Anau 9600
Postal Address:   PO Box 29
Te Anau 9640

Open hours:

  • 1 May – 23 October 2022: Monday to Saturday, 9 am – 4 pm,  closed 12 pm – 1 pm
  • 24 October 2022 (Labour Day) – 30 April 2023: daily 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Note: Closed Mondays during January 2023. Open for emails and phone calls. 

Public holidays:

  • Anzac Day 25 April: open 1 pm – 4:30 pm
  • Christmas Day: closed

Visit the Te Rua-o-te-moko / Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre


Nelson and Marlborough

Whakatū / Nelson Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 546 9339
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   nelsonvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   Millers Acre/Taha o te Awa
79 Trafalgar Street
Nelson 7010
Postal Address:   Private Bag 5
Nelson 7042

Open hours:

  • Monday to Friday: 8:30 am – 5 pm
  • Saturday and Sunday: 9 am – 4 pm
Rotoiti / Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 521 1806
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   nelsonlakesvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   View Road
St Arnaud
Postal Address:   PO Box 55
St Arnaud 7053

Open hours:

  • 8 am – 4:30 pm daily

Closed:

  • 12 pm – 1 pm daily
  • Christmas Day
Other visitor centre providing DOC services

Golden Bay Visitor Centre


Otago

Dunedin Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 474 3300
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   dunedinvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   50 The Octagon
Dunedin
Postal Address:   PO Box 5244
Moray Place
Dunedin 9058

Open hours:

  • Monday to Friday: 8:30 am – 6 pm
  • Saturday and Sunday: 8:45 am – 6 pm
  • Public holidays: 9 am – 5 pm
Tititea / Mount Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre
Phone:   0272696871
Fax:   03 4437660
Email:   wanakavc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   1 Ballantyne Road
Wanaka 9305
Postal Address:   PO Box 93
Wanaka 9343

Open hours:

  • November to April: 8 am – 5 pm daily
  • May to October: Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm, closed Saturday and Sunday

Closed

  • May to October: Monday to Saturday 12 pm – 12:30 pm, all day Sunday 
  • Christmas Day
Whakatipu-wai-Māori / Queenstown Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 442 7935
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   queenstownvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   50 Stanley Street
Queenstown
9300
Postal Address:   PO Box 811
Queenstown 9348

Open hours:

  • November to April: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm daily
  • May to October: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Monday – Saturday, closed Sunday
  • Anzac Day 25 April: 1 pm – 4:30 pm
  • Open on public holidays, except Christmas Day

Visit the Queenstown Visitor Centre


Southland

Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 219 0009
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   stewartisland@doc.govt.nz
Address:   15 Main Road
Oban 9818
Postal Address:   PO Box 3
Rakiura/Stewart Island 9846

Open hours:

  • April to June: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm daily
  • July to September:
    • 9 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
    • 10 am – 2 pm, Saturday and Sunday
  • October:
    • 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday
    • 9:30 am – 2:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday
  • November:
    • 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday
    • 9:30 am – 2:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday
  • December:
    • 8:30 am – 5 pm, Monday – Sunday
    • 9 am – 4 pm, Saturday 24, Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 December
    • Closed, Christmas Day, Sunday 25 December
  • January:
    • 9 am – 4 pm, Sunday 1, Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 January
    • 8:30 am – 5 pm, Monday – Sunday

Public holidays:

  • Except Christmas day: same as weekend times or as indicated on front door
  • Christmas Day: closed

Visit the Rakiura National Park Visitor Centre


Taranaki

Egmont National Park Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 6 756 0990
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   egmontvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   2879 Egmont Rd
Egmont National Park
Postal Address:   PO Box 462
New Plymouth 4340

Open hours:

  • December to March: 8 am – 3.30 pm daily
  • April to November: 8:30 am – 4 pm daily
  • Closed Christmas Day
Dawson Falls Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 27 443 0248
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   egmontvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   Manaia Rd
Egmont National Park
Postal Address:   PO Box 462
New Plymouth 4340

Open hours:

  • 9 am to 4 pm, Thursday to Sunday all year round.
  • Sometimes open on public holidays depending on staff availability.


Wellington

Kapiti Wellington Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 4 384 7770
Email:   wellingtonvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   18 - 32 Manners Street
Wellington
6011
Postal Address:   PO Box 10420
The Terrace
Wellington 6143

Open hours:

  • 8:30 am – 4 pm Monday to Friday
  • Closed weekends and public holidays

Closed from 26 December 2022 to 8 January 2023.


West Coast

Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 731 1895
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   paparoavc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   4294 Coast Road
Punakaiki
RD 1
Runanga 7873
Postal Address:   4294 Coast Road
Punakaiki
RD 1
Runanga 7873

Open hours:

  • April – November: 9 am – 4:30 pm daily
  • December – March: 9 am – 5 pm daily
Westland Tai Poutini National Park Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 752 0360
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   westlandnpvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   69 Cron Street
Franz Josef Glacier 7856
Postal Address:   PO Box 14
Franz Josef Glacier 7856

Open hours:

  • 8:30 am – 5 pm daily (depending on staff availability, the visitor centre may be closed over the lunch period)

Visit the Westland Tai Poutini National Park Visitor Centre

Awarua / Haast Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 750 0809
Fax:   -
Email:   haastvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   Haast Junction
Corner SH6 and Jackson Bay Road
Haast
South Westland
Postal Address:   PO Box 50
Haast 7844

Open hours:

  • 9 am – 4:30 pm daily (depending on staff availability, the visitor centre may be closed over the lunch period)
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