Cloud hangs over the Milford Track. Photo / Supplied
Cloud hangs over the Milford Track. Photo / Supplied
A hike in fees for international tourists wanting to traverse the country's most popular walking tracks has been hailed a success by the Department of Conservation.
The trial had led to more New Zealand residents accessing the tracks and had brought in more cash, DoC said.
It earlier increased the cost of sleeping huts for international visitors on the Milford, Kepler and Routeburn tracks as well as the Abel Tasman Coastal Walk.
In a seven-month trial from last October to April, tourists have been charged double what Kiwi walkers pay — ranging from $140 per night on the popular Milford track, to $75 on the Abel Tasman.
Making a splash in a lake on the Routeburn Track. Photo / Supplied
The fee hike had led to 30 per cent more Kiwi residents accessing these four Great Walks than a year earlier and brought in an extra $2.4 million in revenue, DOC pricing and economics director Laura White said.
"The trial has been successful, with more New Zealanders accessing these walks, bringing in more revenue and providing a significant amount of information," White said.
The trial was initially brought in with the aim of easing the strain New Zealand's wilderness sites were feeling from the record numbers of visitors descending on them.
Visitors numbers to public conservation lands in the year ending March 2018 had earlier hit a new record as 1.75m people - or 52 per cent of all international tourists - visited a national park.
This was up 5 per cent on the previous year with tourists making up about 60 per cent of all people using the Great Walks.
However, during the recent trial period the number of Kiwis hiking the Great Walks jumped to 52 per cent, up from 39 per cent in the year ending March 2018.
A view along the Routeburn Track. Photo / Supplied
The number of Kiwi kids hiking the Great Walks also jumped by 13 per cent compared to a year earlier.
As a result, DOC said it will now to continue running the trial unchanged for the 2019/20 season.
Those keen on hiking the Great Walks will have the chance to book huts on trails, starting with the Heaphy and Milford tracks, from June 11.
However, the trial was not considered a success by all.
Just 63 per cent of international visitors rated the four Great Walks used in the higher fee trials as value for money. This was down from 73 per cent in 2018.
Away from the Great Walks, DoC is planning to raise prices at its other parks from July 1 this year.
This includes a $2 increase per night for adults staying at DOC's serviced (from $18 to $20) and scenic (from $13 to $15) campsites.
Children's prices (half the adult rate) will increase by $1 per night.
