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Forty-five Department of Conservation huts and campsites will move onto the national booking system this summer, helping to manage crowding, give visitors more certainty, and support the ongoing care of backcountry and coastal sites.
A total of 22 huts and 23 campsites will become bookable in December, ranging from backcountry options on the Hollyford Track in Fiordland to campsites in the Marlborough Sounds. DOC says there is no change to the cost of staying at any of the facilities.
DOC visitor services manager Cameron Hyland says advance bookings help staff plan and improve the visitor experience.
“We encourage people to book these places in advance,” Cameron says. “Making facilities bookable helps our teams plan effectively, reduces overcrowding, and means we can share important updates with visitors when needed.”
Cameron says the backcountry network remains open for emergency shelter.
“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.”
Huts and campsites covered by the Backcountry Hut or Campsite Passes will continue to be included, with pass holders able to book online.
Cameron says DOC aims to maintain a balance of bookable and non-bookable facilities.
“DOC manages around 950 huts, and the vast majority of these remain non-bookable,” Cameron says.
“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 open on Tuesday, December 2, for stays beginning Friday, December 5.
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 & 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
