23-05-2025
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
