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Planning and paying for backcountry trips is getting easier, with the Department of Conservation (DOC) adding another 62 huts and campsites to its online booking system and moving Backcountry Hut Tickets online.
The changes are part of DOC’s ongoing work to make it easier for people to plan their naturing and pay for stays at huts and campsites.
Thirty-two huts and hut-side campsites will open for bookings today (October 1), for stays from November 1. Most are on busy sections of Te Araroa in Canterbury and Nelson/Tasman.
A further 30 huts and campsites around the country opened for bookings on 1 September, for stays from October 1.
DOC Visitor Services manager Cameron Hyland says making more popular facilities bookable gives people greater certainty when planning their trips.
“We encourage people heading to these places over summer to plan ahead and book before they go.
“Making more facilities bookable helps reduce overcrowding at some of our busier places and gives our teams a better picture of how facilities are being used.
“It also means we can communicate directly with people who have bookings when there is important information they need to know.”
The latest additions include huts and campsites in Arthur’s Pass National Park and along the St James Walkway, as well as a number of huts through Richmond Forest Park used by Te Araroa walkers.
The changes mark a milestone, with all DOC serviced huts now bookable. As a result, Serviced Hut Tickets are being retired. People who have already bought physical Serviced Hut Tickets can contact DOC to have them applied to a booking until the ticket’s expiry date.
Backcountry Hut Tickets moving online
From November 1, paying to stay at DOC’s non-bookable backcountry huts will also become easier, with Backcountry Hut Tickets available through DOC’s online booking system.
People will no longer need to visit a DOC Visitor Centre or participating retailer to buy a paper ticket before heading away. The price of a standard Backcountry Hut Ticket will remain $15 per adult, per night.
“When buying an electronic hut ticket, people will select the hut they intend to stay at and the date of their stay, then save or print the confirmation before heading into the backcountry, where mobile coverage may be limited,” says Cameron.
“It’s important to remember this isn’t a booking. Non-bookable huts will continue to work exactly as they do now – bunks are first come, first served.
“The ticket is simply proof you’ve paid your hut fee. If a hut is full, or weather or another safety issue means you need to change your plans, people should always do what they need to do to stay safe.”
Existing physical Backcountry Hut Tickets will continue to be accepted during a 12-month transition period, until 1 November 2027, while paper tickets are phased out.
People who cannot purchase online themselves can ask someone to purchase on their behalf or contact a DOC Visitor Centre for assistance.
“Hut fees contribute to looking after DOC’s backcountry hut network, so making it easier for people to pay is good for visitors and helps support the ongoing care of these facilities,” says Cameron.
Backcountry huts remain unlocked and available as emergency shelter to anyone who needs them, regardless of whether they have a booking or have purchased a hut ticket.
DOC continues to provide a mix of bookable and non-bookable huts. Of the roughly 950 huts DOC manages around the country, the majority remain non-bookable.
People should check individual hut and campsite pages on the DOC website before heading out for the latest information, including whether a booking is required.
The 32 facilities opening for bookings October 1, for stays from November 1, are:
Canterbury: Hamilton Hut Campsite, Hope Kiwi Lodge Campsite, Christopher Hut Campsite, Anne Hut Campsite, Boyle Flat Hut Campsite, Carrington Hut Campsite, Casey Hut Campsite, Hawdon Hut Campsite, Edwards Hut Campsite, Magdalen Hut, Waiau Hut, Hurunui Hut, Hurunui No. 3 Hut, Goat Pass Hut, Kiwi Hut – Arthur’s Pass and Locke Stream Hut.
Nelson/Tasman: Old Man Hut, Rocks Hut, Captains Creek Hut, Middy Creek Hut, Slaty Hut, Mt Rintoul Hut, Tarn Hut (Richmond Forest Park), Mid Wairoa Hut, Top Wairoa Hut, Hunters Hut (Richmond Forest Park), Porters Creek Hut, Starveall Hut, Hacket Hut, Browning Hut and Red Hills Hut.
West Coast: Blowfly Hut.
A further 30 huts and campsites opened for bookings on September 1, for stays from October 1
