Record bookings for Great Walks – DOC

18th June 2020 By Staff Reporter | news@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

New Zealand’s Great Walks have attracted a record number of bookings with a 36% increase in overall reservations, says the Department of Conservation.

DOC reopened bookings last week on eight of the Great Walks for the 2020-21 season after Covid-19 restrictions meant applications were temporarily halted.

“With 92% of these bookings made by Kiwis, it demonstrates a huge domestic appetite to explore our home and connect with our natural and cultural heritage,” said DOC heritage and visitors director Steve Taylor.

That compared with 69% of last year’s bookings made by New Zealanders.

There was a 47% increase on the Paparoa Track and a 48% rise in bookings on the Heaphy.

Compared to the same time last year across the eight Great Walks, 6267 bookings had been made, up 36% on last year.

“Whether in Te Anau, Taupo, Westport, Queenstown or Nelson – those undertaking Great Walks will all be doing their bit in communities across Aotearoa, visiting food stores for much-needed provisions for treks, enjoying a well-deserved meal or coffee, or staying a night or two in local accommodation before or after undertaking the walk,” Taylor said.

“Fees from Great Walks bookings are channelled back into maintaining these premier, natural experiences.”

Taylor said hut spaces on the walks were already at 75% capacity but there were still opportunities if trampers were happy to camp or be flexible with dates.

Repairs continued on the Milford and Routeburn tracks and bookings for these walks were expected to open in July – August 2020. Bookings for all other bookable DOC accommodation,  outside of the Great Walks, would open next week on Thursday 25 June.

DOC managed around 1000 huts, 14,000km of walking tracks and 13,000 historic and cultural sites.