Date:  20 January 2020

NZSki is activating its right to charge a fee to drive up the Remarkables Road and from February 3 users will be charged $10 per vehicle during the summer months (16 December to 30 April each year).

DOC Wakatipu Operations Manager Geoff Owen says the Remarkables Road is not a legal road but a series of easements that first cross private land before reaching public conservation land.

These easements provide NZSki with the ability to charge a fee for vehicle access.

"Under the terms of DOC's agreements with NZSki our role is to agree whether the proposed fee can be considered 'reasonable'.

"We do not have the ability to change previous decisions around whether a fee can be charged; that decision was made when the first easements were signed a number of years ago.

"Our revenue team have looked into the charge and are comfortable that $10 per vehicle is reasonable considering the cost to create and maintain an alpine road."

The public still has free foot and bicycle access to The Remarkables Conservation Area and Rastus Burn Recreation Reserve; payment is only required for use of a vehicle.

Search and Rescue (SAR), Police and DOC will also continue to have free access when using the road on official business.

Contact