Ready, set, go! Great Walk bookings open in May

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April 2025

Samantha studied law but is now a journalist. She collates Walk Shorts and freelances for Wilderness and other publications.

By Samantha Mythen

Bookings for the 2025/26 season of Aotearoa’s Great Walks and other huts and campsites will soon open and will be staggered between May 13 to 28.

DOC has upgraded the booking system, making it easier to use. There will be a queue system to manage high demand.

The Heaphy, Kepler and Rakiura tracks are the first Great Walks to open, on May 15. The ever-popular Milford Track will open last, on May 28.

Some booking tips from DOC:

• Set up your profile before opening day

• Use the latest version of your web browser

• If you open the booking screen prior to the specified opening time, you will need to refresh the screen when bookings open to see where there are spaces

• Have a few dates in mind and consider choosing quieter times

• Have the details of everyone in your group ready so you can enter them quickly

• If you miss out on your preferred dates, keep an eye on the website for cancellations

About the author

Samantha Mythen

Walk Shorts writer Samantha Mythen is currently adventuring around the world, writing, hiking and cycling. She studied law but is now a journalist. She has worked for RNZ and freelanced for global publications, including Japan Today.