DOC is adding more huts and campsites to its booking system this summer to help manage crowding, give visitors more certainty for their trips, and support the ongoing care of these special places.
A total of 45 sites – 22 huts and 23 campsites – will become bookable in December. These range from backcountry adventures like the Hollyford Track in Fiordland to scenic coastal campsites in the Marlborough Sounds. There is no change to the cost of staying in any of these huts or campsites.
"We encourage people to book these places in advance," says Cameron Hyland, DOC Visitor Services Manager.
"Making facilities bookable helps our teams plan effectively, reduces overcrowding, and means we can share important updates with visitors when needed."
"Backcountry huts are always unlocked and available as emergency shelter to any who need it, regardless of booking, but booking provides extra assurance to families and less experienced visitors, as well as supporting the payment of hut fees so we can maintain these places into the future," says Cameron.
Any huts and campsites currently included in the Backcountry Hut or Campsite Passes will continue to be included, with users able to make a booking online with the relevant pass.
DOC knows offering a good mix of bookable and non-bookable huts is important to cater to the wide range of people who spend time naturing in the outdoors, says Cameron.
"DOC manages around 950 huts, and the vast majority of these remain non-bookable."
"The booking system also offers flexibility to adjust bookings if needed. It's important that people assess conditions before deciding whether it's safe to travel, and so we make sure that the ability to change plans is built into the system."
Bookings for these facilities open on 2 December, for stays beginning from Friday 5 December.
Newly bookable huts
Turangi/Tongariro
- Boyd Hut
- Blyth Hut
- Mangaehuehu Hut
- Mangaturuturu Hut
- Rangipo Hut
- Whakapapaiti Hut
Canterbury
- Carrington Hut
- Casey Hut
- Edwards Hut
- Hawdon Hut
Fiordland
- Port Craig School Hut
- Demon Trail Hut
- Hidden Falls Hut
- Lake Alabaster Hut
- Hokuri Hut
- Martins Bay Hut
- McKerrow Island Hut
Golden Bay/Motueka
- Fenella Hut
- Sylvester Hut
- Balloon Hut
- Salisbury Lodge
- Mt Arthur Hut
Newly bookable campsites
Wairarapa
- Bucks Road Campsite
- Corner Creek Campsite
- Holdsworth Campsite
- Kiriwhakapapa Campsite
- Putangirua Pinnacles Campsite
- Waiohine Gorge Campsite
Marlborough and Sounds
- Butchers Flat Campsite
- Moetapu Bay Campsite
- Waimaru Campsite
- Harvey Bay Campsite
- Nikau Cove Campsite
- Aussie Bay Campsite
- Elaine Bay Campsite
- Picnic Bay Campsite
- Ferndale Campsite
- Nydia Campsite
- Jacobs Bay Campsite
- Putanui Point Campsite
- Pipi Beach Campsite
- Tawa Bay Campsite
- Ngaruru Bay Campsite
Nelson Lakes
- Kawatiri Campsite
- Teetotal Campsite
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