Domestic tourists flock into nature

WELLINGTON: New Zealanders are getting into the great outdoors in droves this summer.

Department of Conservation (Doc) data shows some regions are busier than they were before Covid19.

Doc directorgeneral Lou Sanson said places within three hours’ drive of major population centres were experiencing high visitor growth, despite no international tourists.

Northland, Coromandel and the upper South Island were especially busy.

Totaranui in the Abel Tasman National Park was the country’s most popular campsite.

More than 42,000 bed nights had been booked between the start of December and the end of February.

Doc said the Abel Tasman Coastal Track was shaping up to be the busiest Great Walk over summer, with more than double the bookings of any other Great Walk.

Doc campsites in Waikawau Bay on the Coromandel Peninsula took second place in the popularity stakes with 17,580 nights booked, followed by Northland campsites Otamure Bay, Uretiti Beach and Puriri Bay (Whangaruru).

Doc figures showed strong demand from people wanting to tackle the country’s Great Walks.

Occupancy rates were averaging 83% full at huts along these walks this summer.

Referring to hut occupancy, the Milford Track was full and the Rakiura, Kepler and Abel Tasman huts were close to full capacity.

Doc said that from late October to late November, nearly three quarters of New Zealanders got outdoors.

There was a rise in numbers visiting island destinations within New Zealand, such as Post Office Wharf, Ulva Island, the Trig Track on Kapiti Island, and the Kaitoke Hot Springs Track on Great Barrier Island.

However, more remote and traditionally highvolume internationally renowned destinations in national parks had had a huge decline in visitors.

Numbers heading to Milford Sound were down by 72%, Franz Josef Glacier was down 66%, the Hooker Valley Track 52%, and Roys Peak and Ben Lomond tracks 42% and 31% respectively.