Kiwis flock to the Great Outdoors

The most common publicly owned recreational spot for Aucklanders was Long Bay. Photo / Greg Bowker

Survey finds top attractions in conservation portfolio draw more visitors than ever, especially if they’re close by

Kiwis are flocking to public conservation sites at greater rates than ever before, and a new survey reveals which picturesque spots top the list.

The study by Nielsen Research provided a snapshot for conservation officials of how many New Zealanders were visiting recreational areas, what they were doing there, and which places were the most popular.

It found people in most parts of the country favoured conservation areas in their backyard.

"While there are some truly iconic places that people travel a long way to see, most people are visiting places that are in their local area," a report on the survey said.

The most common publicly owned recreational spot for Aucklanders was Long Bay, a marine reserve with a sprawling, sandy beach 20km north of the city's CBD.

North Head, at the mouth of the Waitemata Harbour, placed second while destinations further afield for Aucklanders included Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula and Tongariro National Park.

Northlanders' most popular spot was the Stone Store in Kerikeri and the giant, ancient kauri tree Tane Mahuta in the Waipoua Forest.

Those from Waikato and the Bay of Plenty were most likely to visit Huka Falls at Lake Taupo and the historic goldmine area in Karangahake Gorge.

The survey was commissioned by the Department of Conservation before what it predicted would be its busiest summer on record.

Campground bookings have far exceeded previous years. At Maitai Bay in the Far North, for instance, staff have set up a temporary site to look after people who are waiting to get into the 100-tent campground.

Visitors to the country's Great Walks were also at their highest levels on record.

The number of hikers using the nine nationally recognised tracks, including the Milford and Routeburn tracks, rose by 8500, or 10 per cent, between 2013 and 2014.

In total, about 70 per cent of New Zealanders used public recreation areas.

People in the Tasman and Marlborough districts were most likely to spend time at conservation sites, while people in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay were least likely to.

The most common activity in these areas was sight-seeing, closely followed by short walks.