This information shows how people in different parts of New Zealand are discovering the world where they live and having great experiences within the lands and waters that DOC manages.

The data comes from the Survey of New Zealanders, a survey of approximately 4,600 kiwis carried out for DOC by Nielson Research in 2014.

How many people are visiting the places DOC manages?

Each year more than 70% of New Zealanders visit public conservation lands and waters but this varies by region.

The graph below shows the percentage of New Zealanders in each region who visited in 2013/14. It shows that the Tasman region had the highest percentage of people visiting DOC managed areas and that percentages are generally higher in the South Island than they are in the North Island.

Graph of the percentage of New Zealanders in each region who visited in 2013/14

Where do people go?

Information on the parks and places that people in each region are visiting show that, while there are some truly iconic places that people will travel a long way to see, most people are visiting places in their local area.

The tables below show the top DOC administered places that people in each region visited in 2013/14. They include some places, such as ski fields, that are on public conservation land but managed or provided by others.

Note: n = number of respondents

Northland: Recreational area visited by those living in Northland (n=189)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Kerikeri Basin - Stone Store	42%
2	Waipoua Forest (Tane Mahuta, other areas)	33%
3	Cape Reinga / Te Paki Recreation Reserve	29%
4	Bream Head	23%
5	Urupukapuka Island	11%
6	Huka Falls	7%
7	Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas)	7%
8	Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve	7%

 

Auckland: Recreational area visited by those living in Auckland (n=771)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Long Bay - Okura Marine Reserve	31%
2	North Head	24%
3	Huka Falls	21%
4	Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve	17%
5	Rangitoto Island	17%
6	Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas)	14%
7	Coromandel Forest Park (Kauaeranga Valley, Pinnacles Hut, other areas)	14%
8	Cape Rodney - Okakari Point Marine Reserve (Leigh Marine Reserve / Goat Island Marine Reserve, other areas)	12%
9	Kerikeri Basin - Stone Store	11%
10	Cape Reinga / Te Paki Recreation Reserve	11%

 

Waikato: Recreational area visited by those living in Waikato (n=381)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Huka Falls	26%
2	Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park (Karangahake Gorge and Historic Goldmine, Waitawheta, other areas)	25%
3	Coromandel Forest Park (Kauaeranga Valley, Pinnacles Hut, other areas)	21%
4	Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas)	19%
5	Pirongia Forest Park	18%
6	Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve	16%
7	Pureora Forest Park	9%
8	Kerikeri Basin - Stone Store	7%
9	Cape Reinga / Te Paki Recreation Reserve	7%

 

Bay of Plenty: Recreational area visited by those living in Bay of Plenty (n=265)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park (Karangahake Gorge and Historic Goldmine, Waitawheta, other areas)	41%
2	Huka Falls	31%
3	Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas)	18%
4	Te Urewera (Lake Waikaremoana, other areas)	18%
5	Coromandel Forest Park (Kauaeranga Valley, Pinnacles Hut, other areas)	14%
6	Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve	11%
7	Kerikeri Basin - Stone Store	6%
8	Cape Reinga / Te Paki Recreation Reserve	6%
9	Waipoua Forest (Tane Mahuta, other areas)	6%
10	Tongariro River walks	6%
11	Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tane Conservation Park	6%

 

Gisborne: Recreational area visited by those living in Gisborne (n=155)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Te Urewera (Lake Waikaremoana, other areas)	34%
2	Huka Falls	13%
3	Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas)	7%
4	Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park (Karangahake Gorge and Historic Goldmine, Waitawheta, other areas)	6%
5	Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve	4%
6	Kaimanawa Forest Park	4%
7	Manawatu Gorge Walkway	4%
8	Coromandel Forest Park (Kauaeranga Valley, Pinnacles Hut, other areas)	3%
9	Tongariro River walks	3%
10	Ohakune Old Coach Road	3%
11	Egmont National Park (Mt Taranaki, Dawson Falls, North Egmont, other areas)	3%

 

Taranaki: Recreational area visited by those living in Taranaki (n=184)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Egmont National Park (Mt Taranaki, Dawson Falls, North Egmont, other areas)	70%
2	Huka Falls	14%
3	Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas)	12%
4	Whanganui National Park	7%
5	Tongariro River walks	5%
6	Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve	5%
7	Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas)	5%
8	Pureora Forest Park	5%

 

Manawatu-Whanganui: Recreational area visited by those living in Manawatu-Whanganui (n=214)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Manawatu Gorge Walkway	32%
2	Huka Falls	25%
3	Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas)	24%
4	Ruahine Forest Park (Sunrise Hut, Rangiwahia Hut, other areas)	14%
5	Whanganui National Park	13%
6	Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre	13%
7	Tararua Forest Park (Holdsworth, Otaki Forks, other areas)	10%
8	Tongariro National Trout Centre	9%
9	Egmont National Park (Mt Taranaki, Dawson Falls, North Egmont, other areas)	8%
10	Ohakune Old Coach Road	8%

 

Hawke’s Bay: Recreational area visited by those living in Hawke’s Bay (n=163)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Huka Falls	28%
2	Te Urewera (Lake Waikaremoana, other areas)	18%
3	Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas)	15%
4	Ruahine Forest Park (Sunrise Hut, Rangiwahia Hut, other areas)	14%
5	Manawatu Gorge Walkway	11%
6	Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre	8%
7	Old Government Buildings Wellington	7%
8	Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tane Conservation Park	7%
9	Waipoua Forest (Tane Mahuta, other areas)	6%
10	Tongariro River walks	5%
11	Cape Reinga / Te Paki Recreation Reserve	5%

 

Wellington: Recreational area visited by those living in Wellington (n=449)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Old Government Buildings Wellington	26%
2	Tararua Forest Park (Holdsworth, Otaki Forks, other areas)	26%
3	Huka Falls	21%
4	Tongariro National Park (Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Fields, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, other areas)	17%
5	Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre	13%
6	Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas)	8%
7	Tongariro River walks	6%
8	Cathedral Cove / Ha Hei Marine Reserve	6%

 

Nelson: Recreational area visited by those living in Nelson (n=205)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas)	66%
2	Nelson Lakes National Park (Lake Rotoiti, other areas)	57%
3	Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve	45%
4	Kahurangi National Park (Heaphy Track, Mt Arthur, other areas)	30%
5	Hanmer Forest Park	21%
6	Queen Charlotte Track / Ship Cove	19%
7	Arthur's Pass National Park	13%
8	Cape Foulwind / Tauranga Bay	13%
9	Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway	12%
10	Paparoa National Park (Punakaiki / Pancake Rocks, other areas)	12%

 

Tasman: Recreational area visited by those living in Tasman (n=206)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas)	75%
2	Nelson Lakes National Park (Lake Rotoiti, other areas)	57%
3	Kahurangi National Park (Heaphy Track, Mt Arthur, other areas)	47%
4	Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve	42%
5	Hanmer Forest Park	17%
6	Queen Charlotte Track / Ship Cove	15%
7	Arthur's Pass National Park	12%
8	Paparoa National Park (Punakaiki / Pancake Rocks, other areas)	11%
9	Cape Foulwind / Tauranga Bay	10%
10	Westland / Tai Poutini National Park (Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Lake Matheson, other areas)	10%

 

Marlborough: Recreational area visited by those living in Marlborough (n=198)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve	68%
2	Nelson Lakes National Park (Lake Rotoiti, other areas)	52%
3	Queen Charlotte Track / Ship Cove	48%
4	Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas)	29%
5	Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway	23%
6	Hanmer Forest Park	21%
7	Kahurangi National Park (Heaphy Track, Mt Arthur, other areas)	11%
8	Paparoa National Park (Punakaiki / Pancake Rocks, other areas)	11%
9	Westland / Tai Poutini National Park (Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Lake Matheson, other areas)	11%
10	Denniston Historic Mine	11%

West Coast: Recreational area visited by those living in West Coast (n=178)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Paparoa National Park (Punakaiki / Pancake Rocks, other areas)	51%
2	Arthur's Pass National Park	47%
3	Westland / Tai Poutini National Park (Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Lake Matheson, other areas)	41%
4	Cape Foulwind / Tauranga Bay	35%
5	Denniston Historic Mine	28%
6	Nelson Lakes National Park (Lake Rotoiti, other areas)	21%
7	Kahurangi National Park (Heaphy Track, Mt Arthur, other areas)	20%
8	Hanmer Forest Park	19%
9	Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas)	14%

 

Canterbury: Recreational area visited by those living in Canterbury (n=573)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Hanmer Forest Park	38%
2	Arthur's Pass National Park	31%
3	Godley Head - Christchurch	26%
4	Moeraki Boulders	21%
5	Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park (Mt Cook, Tasman Glacier, other areas)	18%
6	Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway	18%
7	Abel Tasman National Park (Abel Tasman Coast Track, Totaranui, other areas)	13%
8	Arrowtown Chinese Settlement	13%
9	Mt Hutt Skifield	13%
10	Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve	10%

 

Otago: Recreational area visited by those living in Otago (n=225)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Moeraki Boulders	41%
2	Otago Central Rail Trail	38%
3	Arrowtown Chinese Settlement	25%
4	Taiaroa Head Albatross Colony	25%
5	Fiordland National Park (Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri, Milford, Kepler and Routeburn Tracks, other areas)	23%
6	St Bathans	21%
7	Nugget Point	20%
8	Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park (Mt Cook, Tasman Glacier, other areas)	18%
9	Mt Aspiring National Park	15%
10	Coronet Peak Skifield (Coronet Peak Recreation Reserve, other areas)	12%

 

Southland: Recreational area visited by those living in Southland (n=179)

Rank	Area	Percentage
1	Fiordland National Park (Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri, Milford, Kepler and Routeburn Tracks, other areas)	55%
2	Moeraki Boulders	24%
3	Nugget Point	24%
4	Otago Central Rail Trail	23%
5	Arrowtown Chinese Settlement	23%
6	Coronet Peak Skifield (Coronet Peak Recreation Reserve, other areas)	14%
7	Remarkables Ski Area	14%
8	Rakiura National Park	13%
9	Mt Aspiring National Park	9%

What activities are people doing?

Our survey provides a snapshot of the main activity that people were doing on their most recent visit to a DOC managed area. It provides an idea of the relative popularity of different activities.

In 2013/14 the most popular top three activities across all regions were:

• short walks (23%)
• sightseeing (24%)
• outings with family and friends, eg picnics, BBQs (14.5%).

The next most popular activities were:

• day walks (9%)
• mountain biking and cycling (3%)
• camping (3%)
• tramping (3%)
• hunting (2%). 

There were some significant differences in the popularity of different activities between regions, for example 10% of people from the West Coast went hunting on their last visit to public conservation land compared to only 1% of Aucklanders.

Key differences are shown below. These differences are likely to relate to both peoples’ preferences and the number and proximity of places to visit. 

Main activities carried out at a DOC administered place by region

Region	More popular than average	Less popular than average
Northland	Sightseeing (34%)	Day walks (2%)
Auckland	Outings with family / friends (20%)	Mountain biking/cycling (2%)Hunting (1%)
Bay of Plenty	Camping (7%) Hunting 6%	Outings with family/friends (10%)
Gisborne	Camping (9%)
Manawatu / Whanganui	Day walks (18%)	Outings with family/friends (7%)
Wellington
Nelson	Tramping (9%)
Tasman	Camping (7%) Tramping (6%) Hunting (5%)	Sightseeing (18%) Mountain biking/cycling (1%)
West Coast	Sightseeing (35%) Hunting (6%)
Canterbury	Short Walks (30%) Mountain biking / cycling (6%)	Outings with family/friends (12%)
Otago	Mountain biking / cycling (8%)Tramping (7%)	Day walks (4%)
Southland	Sightseeing (36%) Hunting (7%)	Short walks (16%) Day walks (3%)

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