The Department of Conservation has announced new opening dates for booking Great Walks and other facilities for the 2023/24 season (excluding Milford which booked out on April 20).
When DOC went to release opening dates in May for the rest of the Great Walks, technical difficulties forced a postponement of that release.
“We are now pleased to announce that the rest of the Great Walks bookings will open from 11 July,” says director of heritage and visitors Cat Wilson.
“The fixes made to the booking system have been tested extensively by our vendor and an independent specialist, so we have the assurance we need to re-open bookings soon.
“We are grateful to everyone for their patience and understanding and appreciate the time it has taken to make the required changes to the system mean we are opening bookings later than usual.”
The new dates are as follows:
Great Walks
Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 9.30 am – Tongariro Northern Circuit
Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 9.30 am – Rakiura Track
Thursday, July 13, 2023, 9.30 am – Paparoa Track
Tuesday, July 18, 2023, 9.30 am – Abel Tasman Coast Track
Wednesday, July 19, 2023, 9.30 am – Whanganui Journey
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 9.30 am – Kepler Track
Tuesday, July 25, 2023, 9.30 am – Routeburn Track
Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 9.30 am – Heaphy Track*
* Due to storm damage, the Heaphy Track can be booked from either end up to October 19, 2023, with the full track expected to be open later in the year.
Huts, lodges, campsites
Thursday, July 27, 2023, 9.30 am – Momorangi Bay Campground
Tuesday, August 1, 2023, 9.30 am – South Island huts, campsites and lodges*
Wednesday, August 2, 2023, 9.30 am – North Island huts, campsites and lodges
Thursday, August 3, 2023, 9.30 am – Tōtaranui Campground
* Excluding Momorangi Bay and Tōtaranui Campgrounds
