Latest news with #GreatWalk
RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Tongariro Northern Circuit off the table for most this season
Oturere Hut is more than 50 years old. Photo: RNZ / John Edens One of the country's Great Walks will not be opening as usual this season, but walkers on the Tongariro Northern Circuit can look forward to a brand new hut in years to come. Libby O'Brien, the Department of Conservation's (DOC) operations manager for Tongariro, in the central North Island, said the department was working with local hapū Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro on a replacement for Oturere Hut. At more than 50 years old, it had sprung a few leaks. "It just doesn't give a good visitor experience," O'Brien said. "It doesn't meet the standards that we want to deliver with the Great Walk. It's time for it to be replaced with something a little bit more fit for purpose." That meant the Great Walk experience was off the table for now. People would still be able to book the other huts on the circuit individually, with those bookings expected to open in July. But the walk between the two huts on either side - Mangatepopo and Waihohonu - without stopping at Oturere was 20 kilometres, and would take between 8 and 10 hours. That was twice the distance visitors would normally walk on those second and third days, and the route passed through steep, rough alpine terrain with fast-changing, extreme weather. While the tracks were open, DOC did not recommend people hike between Mangatepopo and Waihohonu unless they were very fit and experienced backcountry trampers, carrying the right gear to be self-sufficient. The new hut was in the final planning stages, with construction due to begin in the summer, when there would be longer daylight hours and less harsh alpine conditions for the construction team. "We can sometimes expect snow right up until the end of every year," O'Brien explained. They would be flying building materials in by helicopter, but to keep costs low, the team would stay on-site in the old hut. It would be "slightly different from the normal rectangle hut that people know and love," O'Brien said, and would mean an improved experience for walkers for years to come.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Environment Court Confirms 19 Outstanding Water Bodies In Hawke's Bay
The Environment Court has confirmed that 19 of Hawke's Bay's water bodies meet the high threshold to be classified as 'outstanding', following appeals on Proposed Plan Change 7 (Outstanding Water Bodies) to the Hawke's Bay Regional Resource Management Plan. This outcome concludes the plan change process and ensures that the region's most exceptional water bodies – including aquifers, lakes, wetlands, rivers and estuaries – will receive the highest level of protection moving forward. A water body that is classified as 'outstanding' holds a cultural, spiritual, recreational, landscape, natural form and character, or ecological values that are conspicuous, eminent, or remarkable within Hawke's Bay. Hawke's Bay Regional Council Group Manager Policy & Regulation Katrina Brunton says, 'These are exceptional places. They stand out as the best of the best, and this decision confirms they'll be recognised and safeguarded for future generations with the health and wellbeing of these water bodies prioritised.' 'While not every water body has been classified as outstanding, many others are highly valued by local communities and tāngata whenua. We remain committed to improving the health and mauri of all water bodies across Hawke's Bay.' List of Outstanding Water Bodies in Hawke's Bay Outstanding water body Outstanding values Heretaunga Plains Aquifer System Cultural or spiritual values (whakapapa o te wai, wāhi taonga, wairua, mauri) Lake Poukawa and Pekapeka Swamp Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for aquatic native birds) Lakes Rotoroa and Rototuna (the Kaweka Lakes) Natural character (Lake Rotoroa and Lake Rototuna) Habitat for indigenous aquatic plant community (Lake Rototuna); Habitat for native fish community (Lake Rotoroa) Lake Tūtira (including Lake Waikōpiro) Cultural or spiritual values Lake Waikaremoana Ecology, specifically habitat for aquatic native plant communities; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Natural character; Recreation (central focus of a Great Walk) Lake Whakakī – Te Paeroa Lagoon – Wairau Lagoon and Wetlands Ecology (habitat for high natural diversity of aquatic native birds) Lake Whatumā Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for aquatic native birds, particularly Australasian bittern) Mangahouanga Stream Geology (presence of dinosaur fossils) The Mohaka River upstream of Willow Flat Natural character; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Recreation, including trout angling, kayaking and rafting; Trout fishery (Mohaka River mainstem and in the tributaries upstream of State Highway 5 bridge) Ngamatea East Swamp Natural character; Ecology (habitat for indigenous plant populations Ngaruroro River & Waitangi Estuary Upstream of the Whanawhana cableway Natural character; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Rainbow trout habitat; Recreation (trout angling, whitewater rafting, kayaking); Habitat for native aquatic birds (particularly whio) Downstream of the Whanawhana cableway Habitat for native aquatic birds (including banded dotterel, black fronted dotterel) Downstream of the Whanawhana cableway to Fernhill Natural form and character (braided river) Waitangi Estuary Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga, mauri Ruataniwha Plains Aquifer System Cultural or spiritual values (including whakapapa o te wai) Taruarau River Natural character, especially the gorge; Recreation (whitewater rafting and kayaking) Pōrangahau River and Estuary downstream of the Beach Road Bridge Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for native aquatic birds) Te Hoe River Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Habitat for aquatic native birds (particularly whio) Te Karamū River Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga, whakapapa o te wai, nohoanga/pāhi Te Whanganui-a-Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary) Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga; Aquatic bird habitat; Native fish habitat Tukituki River downstream of SH50 bridge to the sea, including the estuary Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga for the estuary Ecology (habitat for native aquatic birds, particularly in the lower river) Mainstem of the Tūtaekurī River upstream of the SH50 Bridge Cultural or spiritual values More Information
Otago Daily Times
28-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Milford walk sells out in 30 minutes
McKinnon Pass on the Milford Track. PHOTOS: ODT FILES It takes up to four days to walk it, but 30 minutes is all it took yesterday for all Milford Track tickets for this season to sell out. High demand was expected for a chance to traverse the track and it was. Department of Conservation (Doc) visitor services manager Cameron Hyland was pleased with the interest. 'The opening of the Milford Great Walk has been a success, continuing the run of successful openings of all Great Walks bookings beginning May 13,'' he said. He said the booking system for the Milford Track worked well yesterday morning with 11,800 people queuing in the lobby at 9.30am to make bookings for just 7100 spots. ''The Milford Track effectively sold out around 10am - with 2000 bookings made - an average booking is for two to three people. ''Inevitably some people miss out given the high demand and limited supply for Milford Great Walk. ''We recommend checking back regularly - cancellations mean new spaces sometimes become available.'' Bookings also went smoothly yesterday with Lake Waikaremoana, Abel Tasman Coast and Paparoa Tracks, with 3300 bookings made in the first hour of opening and about 6000 users joining the queue. A new Great Walks booking system had reduced waiting time online to a few minutes, Doc said last week in a statement. The booking system had been plagued with issues in recent years, with system crashes, false starts and booking dates pushed back following high demand and technical glitches. - APL
Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
New system to improve wait times
The Kepler Track — Doc has opened bookings for some of the Great Walks tracks. CREDIT: LAURA SMITH (SOUTHLAND EXPRESS) A new Great Walks booking system has reduced waiting time online to a few minutes according to the Department of Conservation. The booking system has been plagued with issues in recent years with system crashes, false starts and booking dates pushed back following high demand and technical glitches. Doc heritage and visitor director Cat Wilson said she was very happy with how the new booking system had performed since it was launched recently. "We've implemented an industry-leading lobby system similar to systems used by concert booking companies to smooth the customer experience and manage very high demand at peak times. "The upgraded booking system and new lobby function worked well on opening day with over 2000 users waiting in the lobby at 9.28am. We had processed 1200 bookings by 10am." About 8300 people were waiting when bookings opened last Thursday morning but that dropped to about 1200 by 10am, she said. "By 12.30pm, 4600 Great Walks bookings had been made and we're expecting bookings will continue to come in throughout the day." Great Walk bookings queue wait-time was also now down to four minutes, she said. Bookings for Tongariro Northern Circuit are on hold while Doc assesses plans for replacing Oturere Hut. Opening dates May 13: Back country huts, lodges, sole occupancy facilities May 15: Heaphy Track, Kepler Track, Rakiura Track, Hump Ridge Track May 20: Conservation campsites, except Tōtaranui, Momorangi, Anaura Bay campsites May 21: Momorangi campsite, Anaura Bay campsite May 22: Whanganui Journey, Routeburn Track, Tongariro Northern Circuit May 27: Lake Waikaremoana Track, Abel Tasman Coast Track, Paparoa Track May 28: Milford Track June 4: Tōtaranui campsite — Toni McDonald
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- NZ Herald
NZ Great Walks bookings - all you need to know
In previous years, the Great Walks booking website has crashed due to the high volume of traffic when bookings open. To help address concerns, DoC has upgraded its booking system, which launches on May 15. 'We've introduced a new industry-leading lobby system, similar to those used by concert-booking companies, so customers have a smoother experience, and we can better manage the very high demand when bookings first open,' says DoC heritage and visitor director Catherine Wilson. Wilson adds that the reshuffling of dates in the booking schedule will also help those who plan to make several reservations secure their desired spots. It pays to check the website often if initially unsuccessful, as cancellations and unwanted bookings get re-released into the pool. 'Many times, groups will all go on when bookings open to secure their spots, to increase their chances. These spots are held for 20 minutes and then released back into the pool,' a user on the subreddit r/newzealand observed. Another Redditor suggested booking for a less common date, writing, 'Go on the shoulder season, or go on less popular walks'. DoC suggests remaining hopeful and persistent, even if the popular walks get booked out on the first day. 'While the most popular Great Walks such as Milford and Routeburn book out very fast on the day, there are often cancellations, so it's worth keeping an eye on the booking website,' says Wilson. 'Other experiences, such as Abel Tasman and Heaphy, have more capacity and don't generally book out on opening day.' This year, the Tongariro Northern Circuit will be the only Great Walk unavailable for booking while plans are assessed to replace the Oturere Hut, the Department of Conservation revealed. It was initially set to open on May 22. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing day walk remains open, with bookings not essential. James Morgan, a hiker and developer based in Auckland, compiled three years of cancellation data to identify when is best to book. 'There are clear trends as to how and when people are re-releasing their spots back in the system that can be used to better someone's chances in securing a spot,' wrote Morgan in his analysis. 'The obvious one is to have more flexible travel plans and be open to doing the hikes during the fringe seasons. However, if that is not an option, hikers can prepare themselves by knowing that from two months out from their intended booking date, there is an increased chance that someone will release a spot.' In May 2024, DoC was forced to reboot its booking system after a huge influx in traffic on the first day bookings opened for the year. The same thing happened in 2023. A large portion of the 2024 traffic was from overseas, with international demand up 47% from 2023 figures. Opening dates for Great Walk accommodation bookings (for stays from July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) 9.30am NZST May 15 – Heaphy Track, Kepler Track, Rakiura Track, Hump Ridge May 22 – Whanganui Journey, Routeburn Track May 27 – Lake Waikaremoana Track, Abel Tasman Coast Track, Paparoa Track May 28 – Milford Track Opening dates for all other accommodation bookings (for stays from July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) 9.30am NZST May 13 – Backcountry huts, lodges, sole occupancy facilities May 20 – Conservation campsites, except Tōtaranui, Momorangi, Anaura Bay campsites May 21 – Momorangi campsite, Anaura Bay campsite June 4 – Tōtaranui campsite
