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As the busy summer season starts, the Department of Conservation (DOC) will begin charging for car parking at various sites throughout the country from December 2026.
“Following a successful paid car parking pilot programme earlier this year, DOC decided to extend the programme to several other popular sites as a way for visitors to contribute to nature and the experiences they enjoy,” says DOC director of Heritage and Visitors David Butt.
“The revenue raised will be reinvested into conservation regionally and nationally to support the most urgent projects for native wildlife, cultural heritage and visitor infrastructure.”
The chosen sites are Tasman Glacier, Kepler Track (control gates), Kura Tāwhiti/Castle Hill, Blue Pools, Routeburn Divide, Deepwater Basin (Piopiotahi Milford), Devils Punchbowl, and Te Hāwere-a-Maki/Goat Island marine reserve.
Car park fees for most sites are:
- Free parking period for 10 minutes to allow for drop-offs/pick-ups.
- Half-hourly rate of $2.50.
- Daily rate of $20 per day.
- Some sites (Deepwater Basin and Te Hāwere-a-Maki/Goat Island) have variations on this pricing structure.
Exemptions apply for locals and certain groups:
- Annual permit for locals (within designated boundaries) of $10 for two vehicles, which allows for unlimited access for the year.
- Commercial tourism operators who hold a valid concession will be granted a parking fee exemption.
- School groups, DOC volunteer groups, community groups and DOC contractors can also apply online for exemptions.
Annual permits and exemptions will be available on the DOC website from December onwards on the Paid car parking web page.
Payment machines will be installed at the sites. Non-payment of parking fees will incur breach notices of $75, which will be enforced by Stellar, the hardware and parking services supplier.
DOC’s estimated combined revenue from all the sites is expected to be approximately $3 million over the next year (December 2026 to December 2027).
For more information visit DOC’s website: Paid car parking web page
