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New Zealand's famed overnight walking trails will become more expensive this year as the Department of Conservation hikes prices to be more financially sustainable.
The nearly 1000-strong network of huts across New Zealand's wild spaces are a national treasure, loved by locals and internationals alike.
Thousands of Australians visit New Zealand each year primarily to hike, or as New Zealanders call it, tramp.
Annual bookings for the ten Great Walks, including the iconic Milford Track, go on sale over the coming days, and are largely unaffected by the price hikes.
However, a night in the standard and serviced huts will be lifted from a minimum of $5 to $10, with more popular huts now costing $30 a night.
Hut fees still wouldn't come close to the multi-million dollar cost of maintaining the Department of Conservation (DOC) managed trails.
"DOC is operating under increased budget pressures from rising construction and maintenance costs, reduced revenue due to the impacts of COVID-19, and extreme weather events such as Cyclone Gabrielle," DOC director Cat Wilson said.
"Visitor charges contribute to recovering the costs of providing DOC's recreation accommodation, and balances the cost burden between users and taxpayers."
The price rise is the first in 15 years.
Huts on the Paparoa Track, the latest addition to the Great Walk network, will rise in price to $45-$105.
The Milford Track, which regularly features on lists of the best walks in the world, will open for bookings next week, when it is expected to sell out within minutes.
International visitors must pay a 50 per cent surcharge to stay at most Great Walk huts in-season.
There's added enthusiasm for next summer given New Zealand's COVID-19 rules prevented international visitors from visiting for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
Last year, bookings across the Great Walks increased by 47 per cent.
NEW ZEALAND GREAT WALKS ON-SALE DATES
April 20 - Milford Track
April 26 - Abel Tasman Coast Track, Kepler Track, Rakiura Track, Whanganui Journey
April 27 - Paparoa Track, Routeburn Track, Tongariro Northern Circuit
May 16 - Heaphy Track (partially closed due to damage)
* All bookings open at 7:30am AEST
