This year’s demand for Aotearoa New Zealand’s Great Walks has broken the flood gates. On the 20th of April 2023, 10,000 hopeful hikers tried to book their spots but were met with technical system issues.

For this upcoming season, DOC’s Great Walks booking system has failed to filter tracks by availability, causing lengthy wait times. DOC is delaying booking access till mid-June to ensure complete functionality of its systems; these official dates and times will be announced 31 May 2023.

Where available, bookings for this current season, ending June 2023, are still live and functional.

More information can be found through the Department of Conservation.(opens in new window)

To find your perfect New Zealand walk, visit newzealand.com.(opens in new window)