Fees and bookings

Bookings for the 2023/24 season have been delayed. Check here on 14 June 2023 when we will announce the new booking opening dates.

Overview

In the Great Walks season (1 October 2023 – 30 April 2024)

• huts and campsites must be booked in advance
• fees are paid at the time of booking.

Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2023 – 30 September 2023)

• huts and campsites are first come, first served
• fees are paid with a Backcountry Hut Pass or Hut Tickets.

Fees

Fees are charged per person, per night to stay in huts or campsites on the Whanganui Journey. There are no fees for entry into the Whanganui National Park.

Huts

In the Great Walks season (1 October 2023 – 30 April 2024)

New Zealand citizens and those ordinarily resident in New Zealand*:

• Adult (18+ years): $30 per person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): free but booking still required

International visitors:

• Adult (18+ years): $30 per person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): $15 per person, per night

Proof of eligibility is required for the New Zealand rate.

Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2023 – 30 September 2023)

For all visitors:

• Adult (18+ years): $15 per person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): free

Fees from 1 July 2023 for outside the Great Walks season

• Adult (18+ years): $25 per person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): free

Campsites

In the Great Walks season (1 October 2023 – 30 April 2024)

New Zealand citizens and those ordinarily resident in New Zealand*:

• Adult (18+ years): $16 per person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): free but booking still required

International visitors:

• Adult (18+ years): $16 per person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): free but booking still required

Proof of eligibility is required for the New Zealand rate.

Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2023 – 30 September 2023)

For all visitors:

• Adult (18+ years): $10 per person, per night
• Child (17 years and under): free

Discounts

Discounts for Great Walks are not available online. If you belong to a group or organisation that is entitled to a discount we will need to see proof of your membership.

To receive your discount, you must email your organisation's membership card, showing your name, membership number and expiry date, to bookings@doc.govt.nz or go to a DOC visitor centre in person. Visitor centre staff will make your booking for you and apply your discount. No booking fee will be charged.

If you make your booking online yourself, you must contact bookings@doc.govt.nz or a DOC visitor centre within 48 hours of making the booking to receive your discount. Discounts cannot be retrospectively applied to bookings after this time.

What to book

You need to book huts and/or campsites if you're doing the Whanganui Journey in the Great Walks season. 

If you don’t have a valid booking for your stay, you may be charged a penalty, or turned away if the hut/campsite is full.

Bookings are not required outside the Great Walks season.

How to book

Book huts / campsites online or contact a DOC visitor centre or a local isite for personal assistance.

Terms and Conditions

Read the booking terms and conditions (scroll to the bottom to find the Terms and Conditions link) for general information, age ranges, prices, discounts, penalty rates and the alterations and cancellations policy. Bookings not meeting the terms and conditions will be treated as invalid and cancelled.

Booking on behalf of others

Guided groups: To operate a commercial activity in an area managed by DOC, you need to apply for a concession (an official permit), in addition to any bookings you would need to make. Read more about concessions 

To make multiple bookings for facilities/services on behalf of customers, you must obtain permission or an agent agreement from DOC. To do this, email: agents@doc.govt.nz