Great Walks in demand as they hit 30

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  13 May 2022

Bookings for the 2022-23 Great Walks season (1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023) opened last week. Data shows New Zealanders are keen to get into the outdoors and enjoy the country’s landscapes, despite borders reopening.

“We love that Kiwis are choosing to take time out in nature on their Great Walks,” says DOC’s Heritage and Visitors Director, Tim Bamford. 

“It’s not surprising Great Walks are popular; they are bucket list adventures and restorative escapes.”

”DOC provides a fair booking service that can cope with the demand while keeping numbers on these walks at a sustainable level for the precious landscapes they traverse. It’s a careful balance between delivering high-quality access, and ensuring these places are protected and restored for future generations.”

Excluding the storm damaged Heaphy Track, there was a slight increase of around 5% in opening week bookings across the Great Walks, compared to last year, says Tim Bamford. 

“We get a lot of interest in how fast tracks book up for peak dates such as summer holidays and long weekends, but the reality is there’s still plenty of space to book onto a Great Walk this year. Rakiura, Abel Tasman, and Heaphy are all good options and can be walked year-round.”

“Camping is available at more than 50 sites along eight of the Great Walks, for those who are keen and able. Camping is a cheaper option and offers space for groups, and night-time quiet and privacy.”

Bookings by New Zealanders accounted for more than 100,000 or 85% of bednights booked on the Great Walks during opening week. A further 17,500 bednights were booked by international customers. Australians were by far the biggest overseas customer, making roughly half of all international bookings.

“It’s great to see the gradual return of international visitors to our Great Walks and the communities that host them, with an increase from 11% of opening bookings last year to 15% of bookings this year,” says Tim Bamford.

“These figures will change as the season progresses. Although we wouldn’t anticipate a return to pre-COVID numbers, we do expect overseas bookings to increase a wee bit over the season – often filling weekday or off-peak times.”

DOC also gets asked about Great Walks bookings made by businesses and agents each year, says Tim Bamford.

“These make up for a small percentage of bookings and must be made in the same way the rest of us book – online when bookings open with valid names and contacts for walkers.”

At the end of last week (11.59 pm 6 May 2022) DOC data showed bookings by operators, businesses and agents accounted for 1.4% of all Great Walks bookings, with school and community groups accounting for 0.7% and the remaining 97.9 % of bookings made by the public. There were no concessionaire bookings on Milford Track.

Tim Bamford acknowledges multi-day tramping isn’t for everyone but says there’s an option to overnight in nature to suit most people and budgets.

“DOC accommodation is located in some of the world’s most stunning nature, and fees go back into conservation and recreation in New Zealand. I’d encourage everyone to make the most of their conservation huts, lodges, cabins and campsites across the country.”

Find out more: 30 Years of Great Walks 

Minimise your impact outdoors: DOC’s Tiaki Care Code

View the data

Great Walks opening day bookings data*

Abel Tasman Coast Track	17-Jun-21	5-May-22	% change on last yr
Bookings	1,784	1,779	0%
Bednights NZ	23,055	21,550	-7%
Bednights Int	1,538	2,659	73%
Total Bednights	24,593	24,209	-2%
New Zealanders	94%	89%	-5%
International Visitors	6%	11%	76%
Heaphy Track	15-Jun-21	4-May-22	% change on last yr
Bookings	1,315	176	-87%
Bednights NZ	14,382	1,830	-87%
Bednights Int	932	146	-84%
Total Bednights	15,314	1,976	-87%
New Zealanders	94%	93%	-1%
International Visitors	6%	7%	21%
Kepler Track	17-Jun-21	6-May-22	% change on last yr
Bookings	1,904	2,019	6%
Bednights NZ	15,196	16,463	8%
Bednights Int	2,968	4,102	38%
Total Bednights	18,164	20,565	13%
New Zealanders	84%	80%	-4%
International Visitors	16%	20%	22%
Milford Track	15-Jun-21	3-May-22	% change on last yr
Bookings	2,433	2,412	-1%
Bednights NZ	18,540	17,394	-6%
Bednights Int	3,592	4,749	32%
Total Bednights	22,132	22,143	0%
New Zealanders	84%	79%	-6%
International Visitors	16%	21%	32%
Paparoa Track	16-Jun-21	6-May-22	% change on last yr
Bookings	1,351	1,181	-13%
Bednights NZ	10,886	10,297	-5%
Bednights Int	348	695	100%
Total Bednights	11,234	10,992	-2%
New Zealanders	97%	94%	-3%
International Visitors	3%	6%	104%
Rakiura Track	15-Jun-21	5-May-22	% change on last yr
Bookings	774	811	5%
Bednights NZ	5,620	6,981	24%
Bednights Int	1,014	355	-65%
Total Bednights	6,634	7,336	11%
New Zealanders	85%	95%	12%
International Visitors	15%	5%	-68%
Routeburn Track	16-Jun-21	4-May-22	% change on last yr
Bookings	2,961	2,983	1%
Bednights NZ	16,141	16,674	3%
Bednights Int	2,658	3,721	40%
Total Bednights	18,799	20,395	8%
New Zealanders	86%	82%	-5%
International Visitors	14%	18%	29%
Tongariro Northern Circuit	16-Jun-21	6-May-22	% change on last yr
Bookings	512	590	15%
Bednights NZ	4,735	5,261	11%
Bednights Int	569	858	51%
Total Bednights	5,304	6,119	15%
New Zealanders	89%	86%	-4%
International Visitors	11%	14%	31%
Whanganui Journey	16-Jun-21	5-May-22	% change on last yr
Bookings	415	448	8%
Bednights NZ	5,390	5,849	9%
Bednights Int	236	540	129%
Total Bednights	5,626	6,389	14%
New Zealanders	96%	92%	-4%
International Visitors	4%	8%	101%
Total opening day data all Great Walks	2021	2022	% change on last yr
Bookings	13,449	12,399	-8%
Bednights NZ	113,945	102,299	-10%
Bednights Int	13,855	17,825	29%
Total Bednights	127,800	120,124	-6%
New Zealanders	89%	85%	-4%
International Visitors	11%	15%	37%

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

Top 10 countries for Great Walks bookings (total bookings so far for 2022/23)

Country	Bookings	Percent
Australia	9,706	50.40%
USA	3,375	17.52%
UK	1,304	6.77%
Canada	892	4.63%
Germany	844	4.38%
Netherlands	536	2.78%
Israel	392	2.04%
Belgium	275	1.43%
France	233	1.21%
Ireland	169	0.88%

The top 10 countries make up 92% of all international bookings – the remaining 8% contains 68 different other countries. There were international bookings from 78 countries in total.

Remaining capacity across the Great Walks 1 July 2022 to 30 Jun 2023

Great Walk facility occupancy:

• Milford Track: 99%
• Routeburn Track 25% campsites, 90% huts
• Kepler Track: 3% campsites, 79% huts
• Paparoa Track: 54% huts
• Tongariro Northern Circuit: 6% campsites, 43% huts
• Rakiura Track: 4% campsites, 41% huts
• Abel Tasman Coast Track: 5% campsites, 40% huts
• Whanganui Journey: 7% campsites, 31% huts
• Heaphy Track: 0% campsites, 5% huts

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