Great Walks to see great numbers visiting this summer

Date:  20 December 2022 Source:  Office of the Minister of Conservation

As the temperature rose in October, so did visitor numbers. Over the month, just under half (44%) of New Zealanders visited a protected natural area and one in three (29%) visited heritage sites.

“Many DOC sites are reporting a real upsurge in visitors. For example, October visitor numbers to Franz Josef Glacier are more than double those for the same month last year and are sitting at around 50% of what they were pre-pandemic,” says Minister of Conservation Poto Williams.

Compared to last year, summer bed night bookings on Great Walks have increased by 47%.

“This reflects a strong recovery for international bookings which are already up to around two-thirds of pre-pandemic levels,” Poto Williams said.

“This increase in international bookings builds on the number of New Zealanders continuing to book on the Great Walks at very high numbers – up 14% on last year.

“While it’s fantastic to see visitors returning, it’s important we also look after our wildlife, communities and culture that make Aotearoa so special and take care of our back yard.”

DOC is encouraging everyone travelling in New Zealand to follow the Tiaki Promise and protect nature, keep New Zealand clean, drive carefully and show respect to others and the environment.

“Issues DOC saw last year included unauthorised pets in conservation areas, reckless boating and four-wheel driving, litter and vandalism. All these behaviours harm wildlife such as dolphins and birds – many are raising their young at this time of year,” Poto Williams said.

“We want to see everyone enjoy a safe, respectful and restorative summer and it’s up to all of us to play our part.”

Further information

DOC’s observations of visitor trends

Places near population centres are popular among New Zealanders

Protected natural areas in the Auckland region (Long-Bay-Okura Marine Reserve and Rangitoto Island) were most visited by New Zealanders.

Short walks and sightseeing are popular

Short walks and sightseeing are the most popular activities in protected natural areas for New Zealanders. Other leisurely experiences are important too. Especially photography, bird-watching and picnicking.

Visitors are returning to Franz Josef Glacier

It is positive to see people arriving at historically popular visitor destinations, with the latest data showing Franz Josef Glacier welcomed around 23,200 visitors in October 2022 compared to 8,900 visitors in October 2021 and 47,900 in October 2019.

The coast and ngahere are important to people

Generally, places important to people are beaches and coastal areas, especially for Aucklanders and older New Zealanders. Closely followed is the ngahere (forest), more so for people living in Waikato and Wellington regions.

Summer bookings on the Great Walks

DOC bookings data shows that 110,000 bed nights are booked on the Great Walks so far for the summer of 2022/23.

International bookings on the Great Walks account for 27,563 bed nights over summer. They make up 25% of all bed night bookings compared to just 2.6% last summer. In the summer before the pandemic (December 2019 to February 2020), 41% of bed night bookings on Great Walks were by international visitors.

There is continued strong demand for Great Walks with both domestic and international bookings up over last year.

Milford Track is fully booked. Routeburn and Kepler huts are close to capacity but have some camping space available. Paparoa Track and Tongariro Northern Circuit are busy but still have some room to book. There is still plenty of space on the Whanganui Journey, Rakiura and Abel Tasman Coast tracks.

Heaphy Track is still partially closed, but there are good options to undertake shorter and quieter multi-day tramps either end of this track.

Offering more hut and campsite spaces than any other Great Walk, the Abel Tasman Coast Track looks set to be the busiest Great Walk over summer with 31,692 bed nights booked, more than double the amount of people booked to visit than any other Great Walk.

Great Walks summer bed night bookings and domestic/international data

All numbers represent active bookings as of 1 December of each year for summer (1 December to 28 February).

Note: Does not include Lake Waikaremoana data. Information on Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk may be requested from the Chief Executive of Te Uru Taumatua.

Summer bookings of DOC huts, campsites and lodges – outside of Great Walks

Outside of the Great Walks, 182,574 bed nights are booked for DOC huts, campsites and lodges - an increase of 4.7% compared to the same period last year.

Non-Great Walk bookings and bed nights for the summer season are up 40% on last year.

Many people make last-minute bookings for huts and campsites throughout the year as they decide on a Friday they will go camping/tramping this weekend. This effect is particularly strong over summer, so the total bookings for the summer seasons are expected to increase over the coming weeks.

Tōtaranui Campground (near Abel Tasman Coast Track) has, as always, the highest number of bookings out of all DOC campgrounds in New Zealand this summer with over 40,000 bed nights booked.

The three Mimiwhangata Lodges in Northland are fully booked over summer.

Campsite, hut and lodge bookings and bed night data

All numbers represent active bookings as of 1 December of each year for summer (1 December to 28 February).

DOC huts with most summer bed night bookings

Most bed nights booked over summer (1 December 2022 to 28 February 2023) as at 1 December.

DOC campsites with most summer bed night bookings

Most bed nights booked over summer (1 December 2022 to 28 February 2023) as at 1 December.

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