The Trail Pass
Te Araroa - The Trail Pass - New for 2024/2025 Season
Te Araroa has teamed up with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to develop The Trail Pass, an accommodation pass offering easy access and discounted rates on conservation land huts and campsites across the trail network.
Designed to make it simple and cost-effective for walkers to pay for 71 huts and campsites in one single transaction, The Trail Pass also offers users a 20% discount on a further 10 serviced hut bookings.
You’ll find the full list of huts here, including those covered by The Trail Pass and those you need to book directly with DOC to receive the 20% off. Before the walking season starts we will also be updating The Trail App to make it nice and easy to see when a booking is required.
Accommodation that is not on conservation land (DOC managed) will need to be booked directly with private providers. And there’s plenty of information in the trail notes about where to stay and how to pay in these areas.
If you’re through-walking Te Araroa, or walking the South Island, you’ll need to purchase the pass as part of your walker registration. If you’re just walking the North Island, or section walking, the Trail Pass is optional as it may be cheaper to purchase individual hut/ campsite tickets depending on where you want to stay. You can of course still purchase The Trail Pass if you prefer the ease of one transaction.
The pass costs $195 and all funds generated by The Trail Pass support trail development.
FAQs
How do I purchase the pass?
The pass is purchased as part of walker registration. Registration will open during the first week of August 2024.
How long is the pass valid for?
6 months from your expected start date.
What facilities are and aren’t included in the pass?
The pass gives you access to the majority of DOC huts and campsites on Te Araroa – 71 huts and campsites– and a discount on the majority of remaining facilities on conservation land. A full list of the facilities included and excluded can be downloaded here. The Trail App and Trail notes also include this information.
Excluded from the Pass are:
- 10 serviced huts which need to be booked via DOC’s website. You will receive a 20% discount when you book. Alternatively, you can camp by the hut without charge.
- 2 serviced campsites which need to be booked via DOC’s website. You will receive a 20% discount when you book.
- 6 ‘Great Walk’ huts/campsites – The Whanganui River and Tongariro sections of the trail are “Great Walks”. These need to be booked through DOC’s Great Walk Booking System and are excluded from the pass.
Please note, the pass only covers accommodation on Public Conservation Land (PCL) which makes up 1,800km of the 3,000km of trail. 1,200km of Te Araroa is not on PCL. In these areas accommodation is available through private providers and will need to be purchased separately. The trail notes provide information about where to stay and how to pay in these areas.
Only walking the North Island – should I buy the pass?
The pass only covers 12 facilities in the North Island, therefore, if you are only walking the North Island, it may work out better value to purchase individual hut / campsite tickets.
Only walking the South Island – should I buy the pass?
Yes. The majority of the trail through the South Island is on Public Conservation Land. The pass allows you to stay at over 59 facilities on the South Island section of the trail and provides a 20% discount on a further 9. Purchasing the pass is both a requirement and it will save you money.
What if I've already purchased the Backcountry Hut Pass?
DOC will provide you with a refund for your Backcountry Hut pass, once you have purchased Te Araroa – The Trail Pass.
To cancel a pass, log in to your DOC account and click ‘Your Account’ at the top right of the home page. Select ‘Your Bookings’ to find the pass you have just purchased and click cancel. A refund will be made to the credit card used for purchase.