How do New Zealanders discover the world where they live?

Introduction

How people in different parts of New Zealand are discovering the world where they live and having great experiences within the lands and waters that DOC manages.

This information shows how people in different parts of New Zealand are discovering the world where they live and having great experiences within the lands and waters that DOC manages.

The data comes from the Survey of New Zealanders, a survey of approximately 4,600 kiwis carried out for DOC by Nielson Research in 2014.

How many people are visiting the places DOC manages?

Each year more than 70% of New Zealanders visit public conservation lands and waters but this varies by region.

The graph below shows the percentage of New Zealanders in each region who visited in 2013/14. It shows that the Tasman region had the highest percentage of people visiting DOC managed areas and that percentages are generally higher in the South Island than they are in the North Island.

Percantage of New Zealand visitors to regions graph.
Graph of the percentage of New Zealanders in each region who visited in 2013/14

Where do people go?

Information on the parks and places that people in each region are visiting show that, while there are some truly iconic places that people will travel a long way to see, most people are visiting places in their local area.

The tables below show the top DOC administered places that people in each region visited in 2013/14. They include some places, such as ski fields, that are on public conservation land but managed or provided by others.

Note: n = number of respondents

Northland: Recreational area visited by those living in Northland (n=189)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Kerikeri Basin - Stone Store 42%
2 Waipoua Forest (Tane Mahuta, other areas) 33%
3 Cape Reinga / Te Paki Recreation Reserve 29%
4 Bream Head 23%
5 Urupukapuka Island 11%
6 Huka Falls 7%
7 Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas) 7%
8 Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve 7%

 

Auckland: Recreational area visited by those living in Auckland (n=771)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Long Bay - Okura Marine Reserve 31%
2 North Head 24%
3 Huka Falls 21%
4 Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve 17%
5 Rangitoto Island 17%
6 Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas) 14%
7 Coromandel Forest Park (Kauaeranga Valley, Pinnacles Hut, other areas) 14%
8 Cape Rodney - Okakari Point Marine Reserve (Leigh Marine Reserve / Goat Island Marine Reserve, other areas) 12%
9 Kerikeri Basin - Stone Store 11%
10 Cape Reinga / Te Paki Recreation Reserve 11%

 

Waikato: Recreational area visited by those living in Waikato (n=381)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Huka Falls 26%
2 Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park (Karangahake Gorge and Historic Goldmine, Waitawheta, other areas) 25%
3 Coromandel Forest Park (Kauaeranga Valley, Pinnacles Hut, other areas) 21%
4 Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas) 19%
5 Pirongia Forest Park 18%
6 Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve 16%
7 Pureora Forest Park 9%
8 Kerikeri Basin - Stone Store 7%
9 Cape Reinga / Te Paki Recreation Reserve 7%

 

Bay of Plenty: Recreational area visited by those living in Bay of Plenty (n=265)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park (Karangahake Gorge and Historic Goldmine, Waitawheta, other areas) 41%
2 Huka Falls 31%
3 Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas) 18%
4 Te Urewera (Lake Waikaremoana, other areas) 18%
5 Coromandel Forest Park (Kauaeranga Valley, Pinnacles Hut, other areas) 14%
6 Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve 11%
7 Kerikeri Basin - Stone Store 6%
8 Cape Reinga / Te Paki Recreation Reserve 6%
9 Waipoua Forest (Tane Mahuta, other areas) 6%
10 Tongariro River walks 6%
11 Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tane Conservation Park 6%

 

Gisborne: Recreational area visited by those living in Gisborne (n=155)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Te Urewera (Lake Waikaremoana, other areas) 34%
2 Huka Falls 13%
3 Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas) 7%
4 Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park (Karangahake Gorge and Historic Goldmine, Waitawheta, other areas) 6%
5 Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve 4%
6 Kaimanawa Forest Park 4%
7 Manawatu Gorge Walkway 4%
8 Coromandel Forest Park (Kauaeranga Valley, Pinnacles Hut, other areas) 3%
9 Tongariro River walks 3%
10 Ohakune Old Coach Road 3%
11 Egmont National Park (Mt Taranaki, Dawson Falls, North Egmont, other areas) 3%

 

Taranaki: Recreational area visited by those living in Taranaki (n=184)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Egmont National Park (Mt Taranaki, Dawson Falls, North Egmont, other areas) 70%
2 Huka Falls 14%
3 Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas) 12%
4 Whanganui National Park 7%
5 Tongariro River walks 5%
6 Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve 5%
7 Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas) 5%
8 Pureora Forest Park 5%

 

Manawatu-Whanganui: Recreational area visited by those living in Manawatu-Whanganui (n=214)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Manawatu Gorge Walkway 32%
2 Huka Falls 25%
3 Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas) 24%
4 Ruahine Forest Park (Sunrise Hut, Rangiwahia Hut, other areas) 14%
5 Whanganui National Park 13%
6 Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre 13%
7 Tararua Forest Park (Holdsworth, Otaki Forks, other areas) 10%
8 Tongariro National Trout Centre 9%
9 Egmont National Park (Mt Taranaki, Dawson Falls, North Egmont, other areas) 8%
10 Ohakune Old Coach Road 8%

 

Hawke’s Bay: Recreational area visited by those living in Hawke’s Bay (n=163)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Huka Falls 28%
2 Te Urewera (Lake Waikaremoana, other areas) 18%
3 Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas) 15%
4 Ruahine Forest Park (Sunrise Hut, Rangiwahia Hut, other areas) 14%
5 Manawatu Gorge Walkway 11%
6 Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre 8%
7 Old Government Buildings Wellington 7%
8 Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tane Conservation Park 7%
9 Waipoua Forest (Tane Mahuta, other areas) 6%
10 Tongariro River walks 5%
11 Cape Reinga / Te Paki Recreation Reserve 5%

 

Wellington: Recreational area visited by those living in Wellington (n=449)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Old Government Buildings Wellington 26%
2 Tararua Forest Park (Holdsworth, Otaki Forks, other areas) 26%
3 Huka Falls 21%
4 Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas) 17%
5 Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre 13%
6 Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas) 8%
7 Tongariro River walks 6%
8 Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve 6%

 

Nelson: Recreational area visited by those living in Nelson (n=205)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas) 66%
2 Nelson Lakes National Park (Lake Rotoiti, other areas) 57%
3 Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve 45%
4 Kahurangi National Park (Heaphy Track, Mt Arthur, other areas) 30%
5 Hanmer Forest Park 21%
6 Queen Charlotte Track / Ship Cove 19%
7 Arthur's Pass National Park 13%
8 Cape Foulwind / Tauranga Bay 13%
9 Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway 12%
10 Paparoa National Park (Punakaiki / Pancake Rocks, other areas) 12%

 

Tasman: Recreational area visited by those living in Tasman (n=206)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas) 75%
2 Nelson Lakes National Park (Lake Rotoiti, other areas) 57%
3 Kahurangi National Park (Heaphy Track, Mt Arthur, other areas) 47%
4 Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve 42%
5 Hanmer Forest Park 17%
6 Queen Charlotte Track / Ship Cove 15%
7 Arthur's Pass National Park 12%
8 Paparoa National Park (Punakaiki / Pancake Rocks, other areas) 11%
9 Cape Foulwind / Tauranga Bay 10%
10 Westland / Tai Poutini National Park (Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Lake Matheson, other areas) 10%

 

Marlborough: Recreational area visited by those living in Marlborough (n=198)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve 68%
2 Nelson Lakes National Park (Lake Rotoiti, other areas) 52%
3 Queen Charlotte Track / Ship Cove 48%
4 Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas) 29%
5 Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway 23%
6 Hanmer Forest Park 21%
7 Kahurangi National Park (Heaphy Track, Mt Arthur, other areas) 11%
8 Paparoa National Park (Punakaiki / Pancake Rocks, other areas) 11%
9 Westland / Tai Poutini National Park (Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Lake Matheson, other areas) 11%
10 Denniston Historic Mine 11%


West Coast: Recreational area visited by those living in West Coast (n=178)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Paparoa National Park (Punakaiki / Pancake Rocks, other areas) 51%
2 Arthur's Pass National Park 47%
3 Westland / Tai Poutini National Park (Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Lake Matheson, other areas) 41%
4 Cape Foulwind / Tauranga Bay 35%
5 Denniston Historic Mine 28%
6 Nelson Lakes National Park (Lake Rotoiti, other areas) 21%
7 Kahurangi National Park (Heaphy Track, Mt Arthur, other areas) 20%
8 Hanmer Forest Park 19%
9 Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas) 14%

 

Canterbury: Recreational area visited by those living in Canterbury (n=573)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Hanmer Forest Park 38%
2 Arthur's Pass National Park 31%
3 Godley Head - Christchurch 26%
4 Moeraki Boulders 21%
5 Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park (Mt Cook, Tasman Glacier, other areas) 18%
6 Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway 18%
7 Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas) 13%
8 Arrowtown Chinese Settlement 13%
9 Mt Hutt Skifield 13%
10 Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve 10%

 

Otago: Recreational area visited by those living in Otago (n=225)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Moeraki Boulders 41%
2 Otago Central Rail Trail 38%
3 Arrowtown Chinese Settlement 25%
4 Taiaroa Head Albatross Colony 25%
5 Fiordland National Park (Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri, Milford, Kepler and Routeburn Tracks, other areas) 23%
6 St Bathans 21%
7 Nugget Point 20%
8 Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park (Mt Cook, Tasman Glacier, other areas) 18%
9 Mt Aspiring National Park 15%
10 Coronet Peak Skifield (Coronet Peak Recreation Reserve, other areas) 12%

 

Southland: Recreational area visited by those living in Southland (n=179)
RankAreaPercentage
1 Fiordland National Park (Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri, Milford, Kepler and Routeburn Tracks, other areas) 55%
2 Moeraki Boulders 24%
3 Nugget Point 24%
4 Otago Central Rail Trail 23%
5 Arrowtown Chinese Settlement 23%
6 Coronet Peak Skifield (Coronet Peak Recreation Reserve, other areas) 14%
7 Remarkables Ski Area 14%
8 Rakiura National Park 13%
9 Mt Aspiring National Park 9%

What activities are people doing?

Our survey provides a snapshot of the main activity that people were doing on their most recent visit to a DOC managed area. It provides an idea of the relative popularity of different activities.

In 2013/14 the most popular top three activities across all regions were:

  • short walks (23%)
  • sightseeing (24%)
  • outings with family and friends, eg picnics, BBQs (14.5%).

The next most popular activities were:

  • day walks (9%)
  • mountain biking and cycling (3%)
  • camping (3%)
  • tramping (3%)
  • hunting (2%). 

There were some significant differences in the popularity of different activities between regions, for example 10% of people from the West Coast went hunting on their last visit to public conservation land compared to only 1% of Aucklanders.

Key differences are shown below. These differences are likely to relate to both peoples’ preferences and the number and proximity of places to visit. 

Main activities carried out at a DOC administered place by region

Region

More popular than average

Less popular than average

Northland

Sightseeing (34%) 

Day walks (2%)

Auckland

Outings with family / friends (20%) 

Mountain biking/cycling (2%)Hunting (1%) 

Bay of Plenty

Camping (7%)
Hunting 6%

Outings with family/friends (10%)

Gisborne

Camping (9%) 

 

Manawatu / Whanganui 

Day walks (18%)

Outings with family/friends (7%)

Wellington 

 

 

Nelson 

Tramping (9%)

 

Tasman

 

Camping (7%)
Tramping (6%)
Hunting (5%)

Sightseeing (18%)
Mountain biking/cycling (1%) 

West Coast 

Sightseeing (35%)
Hunting (6%)

 

Canterbury 

Short Walks (30%)
Mountain biking / cycling (6%)

Outings with family/friends (12%)

Otago 

Mountain biking / cycling (8%)Tramping (7%)

Day walks (4%)

Southland 

Sightseeing (36%)
Hunting (7%)

Short walks (16%)
Day walks (3%)

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