DOC hikes up Great Walk hut, campsite fees by 18%
Hut and camp site fees for New Zealand’s Great Walks are going up almost 20%.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is increasing the price of Great Walk facilities from July 1.
Prices will rise by 18%, except for Paparoa on the West Coast which will increase by 6%.
DOC director of heritage and visitors Cat Wilson it had been more than four years since prices were reviewed.
“While Great Walk fees don’t cover the full costs, the revenue raised contributes to maintaining, repairing, and improving the huts, camp sites, tracks, and structures and balances the cost burden between users and taxpayers,” she said. “While 18% is a sizeable increase, the prices were last reviewed in 2019/20 and research shows the fees paid to DOC for these Great Walks are typically just a small proportion of the overall cost of peoples’ trip.
“Great Walk experiences continue to be affordable, with options ranging from $19 to camp on the Abel Tasman to $92 for a hut on the Milford Track at peak season for New Zealand residents. Fees for international visitors remain at a 50% premium on most Great Walks.
Wilson said DOC was under increased budget pressure from rising construction and maintenance costs and reduced revenue due to the impacts of inflation, extreme weather events including Cyclone Gabrielle, and other economic pressures.
“As part of the review, we are also reintroducing youth and child fees (5 to 17 years) for the Great Walk facilities which will be 50% of the adult fees. This is in line with youth and child fees at other DOC huts and camp sites.”
She said the “youth go free” approach adopted in 2008 did not noticeably increase children and youth participation. “In some cases, it was even used to hold places on the walks for free, then either not used or cancelled at the last minute, preventing others from being able to book a place on those dates.”
DOC will for the first time also offer a 25% discount to community services card holders. It has reduced the maximum reward discount for organisations contributing to conservation and recreation to 20%.
A date for when bookings for the Great Walk lodgings will open for the next season is yet to be set.