On-line bookings for most of the country’s Great Walks for the 2020/21 season are now open, with the exception of the Milford and Routeburn Tracks that experienced severe flood damage earlier this year. 

However, Department of Conservation (DOC) Te Anau Operations Manager, Nedra Burns said both Milford and Routeburn Tracks would be open this summer season end to end, i.e. over the full length of the track. Currently only the southern end of the Milford Track is open from Glade Wharf to Mackinnon Pass, returning the same way. Similarly, the Routeburn Track is open on the Glenorchy side only, with The Divide to Harris Saddle section closed to walkers.

Mrs Burns said that DOC Operations Director Southern South Island, Aaron Fleming, had deferred the opening of the on-line bookings for these two tracks because of the extent of work required to repair the damages. 

“We anticipate that the on-line bookings will open in July,” she said.

Meanwhile the demand for the Kepler Track has increased for the coming season. Late December and early January were almost fully booked the day after the bookings opened.

“On the opening day for on-line bookings (Thursday, 11 June) there was a 6% increase in reservations compared to last year, with 85% coming from New Zealanders and 15% from international visitors,” she said. 

Fiordland suffered a double whammy when first the February floods and landslides closed the Milford Road and two of the Great Walks, and later the Covid-19 lockdown, brought all tourism operators to their knees by closing the country borders and shutting businesses for two months.

However, the government came to the rescue with $13.7 million of the recently announced 2020 Budget allocated to rebuilding vital visitor infrastructure in the Fiordland region.

“Across Southern South Island we’re putting in additional resources to get our flood-damaged tracks, the Milford and Routeburn, up and running again to help support local economies and tourism operations,” Mr Fleming said.

In July 2019 Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage made the announcement that the Hump Ridge Track near Tuatapere would become the country's 11th Great Walk. The government has allocated $5 million for upgrading the 61km circuit "to bring the track up to Great Walk standard and change it from a current two-night walk to a three-night experience," she said.

But those who are keen to experience the Hump Ridge as a Great Walk may have to wait another year or two.

“The Hump Ridge Great Walk Track development project has just passed its first milestone with the Indicative Business Case approved – which means the project can be developed further and prices sought to undertake the work,” Mr Fleming said. 

“From here, work on the next phase – the detailed business case – can be undertaken. Construction could start in 2021/22. However, a large amount of work needs to happen before construction can begin; easement negotiations, visitor experience design, infrastructure design, procurement of goods and services, and consultation with our partners and stakeholders. The current timeframe for completion of the works is 2023.”

Until that work is completed, the Hump Ridge Track will continue to be operated by the Hump Ridge Track Charitable Trust. The track is closed this winter and will re-open on October 24.

The Environment Minister Eugenie Sage is encouraging New Zealanders to go tramping this coming season.

“For people who haven’t done a Great Walk previously, the 2020/21 season presents a fantastic opportunity to get out and experience nature in some of New Zealand’s most spectacular landscapes with iconic wildlife and rich history,” she said.