DOC increases campsite fees

The Department of Conservation has more than doubled campsite fees along the road to Milford Sound as it braces for increases in demand.

Campsites along the road have been upgraded from the ‘‘standard’’ campsite to a ‘‘scenic’’ campsite, doubling the fees from $6 for an adult per night to $13.

The department’s Piano Flat and Mavora Lakes campsites have also been affected by the fee changes, with adult prices per night going from $6 to $8 and children (ages 5 to 17) rising from $3 to $4.

A DOC spokesperson said the department was making modest increases to fees for standard, scenic and serviced campsites throughout the country.

‘‘Demand for quality campsites is increasing and a fee rise will allow us to reinvest more in the facilities and services to cater for that demand.’’

The scenic category had been around for years, and the update to the Milford road camp sites was reflective of the fact these campsites were in highly scenic areas with high tourism demand, the spokeswoman said. Only the campsites on the Milford road had their categories upgraded, she said.

DOC did not anticipate the charges would have an impact on visitor numbers, the spokeswoman said. ‘‘Research tells us that many campers see greater value in their stay at DOC camps than the fee that we are currently charging.’’

DOC also benchmarked its campsites, the facilities and services offered and the fees charged, against the commercial camp sector and had found there was scope to increase fees at the different categories of camp that DOC provided based on recent price increases across the commercial camp sector, the spokeswoman said.

The fee change came in to effect on October 1. ‘‘It’s the first time we have raised prices in five years and will allow us to catch up with the market and growing expectations of campers.’’

Passes were available to Kiwis and international visitors alike to enable discounted camping.

Te Anau Kiwi Holiday Park owner Anna Molloy said she thought it was a good idea as long as DOC were monitoring the campsites.

‘‘If they can get some money out of it and are monitoring people, good on them.’’

At the holiday park she ran with her husband Brad, they provided nonpowered tent sites for between $20 and $25 during the season, Molloy said.

She believed there would still be people choosing to freedom camp, saying those who did not want to pay would not.

Venture Southland tourism team leader Warrick Low said he did not think the price increase would put people off camping at the DOC sites. The $13 fee in the scope of the euro, pound or greenback was not a huge amount, Low said.

‘‘It’s a brave call by DOC and one that they need to do because there’s more and more pressure on the conservation estate.’’

Southland District Council environmental health manager Michael Sarfaiti said the council was not concerned the fee increase would lead to more freedom camping in the Te Anau area.

‘‘There may be an increase in freedom camping but we do have a ranger patrolling the Te Anau Basin over that tourist season.’’

There was plenty of accommodation available in the area, Sarfaiti said.