Tongariro Alpine Crossing guiding applications
Have your say on 10 applications to undertake guided walking over the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Submissions close at 5 pm, 29 October 2026.

These applications are notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received 10 applications for guiding concessions. 

This notification is being completed in a bulk process. 

Application details

Applicants:  

The 10 applicants are: Active Earth Holdings Limited; Adrift Outdoors Limited; Adventure Outdoors Limited; Adventure South Limited; Antipodes Travel Limited; Intrepid DMC New Zealand Limited; Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoors Education Trust; TMGH Jolly Limited Partnership; Tongariro Wild Limited; and Walking Legends Limited.

Location of proposed activity: Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Tongariro National Park
Concession type: Guided walking
Summary of proposal:
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing bulk application process includes guided walking over the Tongariro Alpine Crossing at Tongariro National Park and transporting guided clients using the Mangatepopo Road and carpark and Ketetahi Road and carpark. The concession term is for a period of 5 years.

Application documents:

How to make a submission

Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.

Submissions close Thursday 29 October 2026 at 5 pm.

1. Prepare your submission

Record what you think in the submission form.

Any person or organisation wishing to be heard at a possible hearing in support of their submission must request an opportunity to appear before the Director-General. This request must be included in your submission.

2. Send us your submission

Send your submission by email or post. You'll get a confirmation email or letter when a submission has been received.

Email: cryjones@doc.govt.nz
Subject line: Tongariro Alpine Crossing Bulk Process

Post:
Director-General
Department of Conservation
Private Bag 3072
Hamilton 3240

Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, state this in writing when making your submission.

What happens next

After submissions close:

  1. DOC will analyse and consider all submissions.
  2. A hearing may be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you'll be contacted by DOC regarding this.
  3. DOC will analyse and consider any information raised at any hearing that may occur.
  4. DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation.
  5. The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the applications.

Hearing details

If a hearing is required, it's likely to occur in November 2026.

Decision

No details at this point. Details, such as submissions and the decision outcome, will be added when they are available.

DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications

The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of these proposed concessions on public conservation land. This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concessions.    

Contact

If you have a question about the applications or the submission process you can contact Crystal Jones, Permissions Advisor, email: cryjones@doc.govt.nz.