Department of Conservation recreation facility fee review
Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication.
Introduction
The Department of Conservation has completed its annual review of hut fees for backcountry walks and Great Walks.Date: 02 July 2010
The Department of Conservation has completed its annual review of hut fees for backcountry walks and Great Walks such as the Heaphy, Routeburn, Kepler and Milford tracks.
Some increases were required to offset the rising cost of servicing huts and facilities, including transport costs.
The cost of Great Walk huts will rise $5 a night, but will continue to be free for under 18s. The annual hut pass for backcountry huts will increase from $90 to $120 and the six-month pass from $60 to $90.
Fees have been held since March 2008, but increases are needed due to rising costs. Fees still only cover a proportion of the costs of maintaining DOC’s hut network. They still represent only a modest portion of a tramper’s costs and they have been set at a range that should have little impact on affordability.
Fee increases take effect from 2 July 2010.