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Bookings for New Zealand’s Great Walks, huts and campsites for the 2026/27 season will open from May 12, with the Department of Conservation introducing staggered release dates to manage demand.
The phased approach will see bookings open across several days at either 9.30am or 12pm, helping reduce pressure on the system and allowing users to plan multiple trips.
DOC’s online booking platform will again include a virtual queue to manage peak demand.
Strong demand continues
Department of Conservation acting director heritage and visitors Carly Strausberg says demand for Great Walks remains high.
“Last summer, many Great Walks huts reached or were close to capacity during the peak season,” Carly says.
The Milford Track and Abel Tasman Coast Track both reached around 95 per cent occupancy, while the Kepler Track reached 91 per cent.
Growth across network
Four of the 11 Great Walks recorded increased bookings compared with the previous year, with strong rebounds on tracks affected by severe weather in 2023.
The Lake Waikaremoana Track and Heaphy Track saw particularly strong growth as visitors returned following recovery work.
Around 60 per cent of hut bookings were made by New Zealanders, indicating continued strong domestic demand alongside returning international visitors.
Campsites and alternatives
High demand extends beyond Great Walks, with sites such as Mueller Hut, Hooker Hut and Totaranui Campsite regularly booking out during peak periods.
However, DOC says availability remains across the wider network, particularly for campsites and less busy tracks.
Visitors spent more than 400,000 nights in DOC campsites, up more than 10 per cent on the previous year, reflecting growing demand for lower-cost and flexible travel options.
Encouraging regional dispersal
Carly says visitors should consider alternative locations if popular tracks are fully booked.
“Tracks like Heaphy, Lake Waikaremoana and the Whanganui Journey offer incredible experiences and often have space available,” she says.
The staggered booking system and broader network capacity are expected to support better dispersal across regions during the peak season.
