Reduction in fees for international visitors on Great Walks?

[lseries92]

I have not seen any announcement but I have noticed that hut fees for international visitors for next season are no longer double the NZ rate for the Milford track. Seems to be the same for the Routeburn and Kepler Huts and Abel Tasman campsites (which were also double).

Both Milford and Routeburn tracks have had their opening dates for bookings delayed due to damage from earlier this year - no exact date has yet been announced.

Huts
In the Great Walks season (27 October 2020 – 30 April 2021):

New Zealand citizens, those ordinarily resident in New Zealand*:

Adult (18+ years): $70 per person, per night
Child (17 years and under): free but booking still required
International visitors:

Adult (18+ years): $70 per person, per night
Child (17 years and under): $35 per person, per night

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recre ... e-id-42122

[Joynz]

Yeah, the doubling of costs was a trial. Highly criticised by quite a few non-Kiwis when I did the Kepler and Rakiura in Feb. Got a bit sick of hearing it.

[north-north-west]

UnZud is opening up to overseas visitors already?

[wayno]

UnZud is opening up to overseas visitors already?

no, and no date for it to happen.

[wayno]

Yeah, the doubling of costs was a trial. Highly criticised by quite a few non-Kiwis when I did the Kepler and Rakiura in Feb. Got a bit sick of hearing it.

try booking the milford , kepler , or routeburn in summer, normally sells out in minutes,, mainly to foreigners... beacuse theres no shortage of foreigners competing for the places and kiwis struggle to get a look in.
miford has been like that for decades..

there was a massive problem with aussie youth groups booking out the huts, because kids were free, they would change their plans but not bother cancelling, so half a hut would end up empty in peak season.

doubling the fees made no difference whatsoever ... no shortage of people queueing up to book it out.

the fees are going to be 1.5 times the price for foreigners in the future..

[Joynz]

I was surprised that the Kepler didn’t book out immediately for the 2020 summer season. I was still seeing availability several months after booking opened. However, I was booking for one so may have been different if I’d been in a group.

I’m a kiwi living in Australia so hoping the borders open soon!

[wayno]

New Great Walk hut summer fees:
Milford Track
International: $110 (an increase of $40)
NZ resident: $78 (an increase of $8)

Kepler Track

International: $102 (an increase of $37)
NZ resident: $68 (an increase of $3)
Routeburn Track

International: $102 (an increase of $37)
NZ resident: $68 (an increase of $3)


https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2 ... walks.html

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recre ... -20212022/

[stry]

I don't have a problem with that.