TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Updated April 2021
General
Terms and Conditions
Backcountry Hut Pass
Campsite Pass
General
Terms and Conditions for Bookable Backcountry Huts, Conservation Campgrounds,
Lodges, Cabins, Sole Occupancy Accommodation, Permits and Guided Walks
Updated June 2020
Bookings not meeting
the following Terms and Conditions are treated as not valid and will be cancelled
by the Department of Conservation (“DOC”).
By accepting these
terms and conditions you are also accepting local site rules. These can be found at doc.govt.nz
on the property web page.
GENERAL
·
A
User/Household account must be created to make a booking. Information required to
create an account is first and family names, hometown and country and a valid
email address and phone number at the time of booking.
·
Account
holders remain the owner of the booking and all correspondence regarding the
booking must be received from or will be sent to the email address listed on
their account. Account users can change details of their account online.
·
A
booking is required for each adult, youth, child and
infant intending to use the facility/service.
·
Bookings
are not transferrable from one entity to another.
·
Proof
of identity and booking may be required when accessing the facilities/services
booked. Accepted forms of ID are a passport, driver's licence, credit card,
firearms licence or student ID and must be shown to DOC staff or their Agents
on request.
·
Commercial
and/or guided groups are not permitted to use DOC facilities/services unless
authorised by a concession.
·
Commercial
Agents wishing to make multiple bookings for services on behalf of customers
must hold an Agent agreement with or obtain permission from DOC.
AGE CATEGORIES
· The age categories below apply at time
accommodation or service is used
· Persons aged 14 year and under must
be accompanied by an adult.
|
|
Adult |
Child/Youth |
Infant/Child |
|
Huts and
associated Backcountry Campsites |
18 years plus |
11-17 years |
0-10 years |
|
Campgrounds Cabins,
Lodges & Sole Occupancy Sites Permits Guided Walks |
18 years plus |
5-17 years |
0-4 years |
Facilities/services provided by other
organisations, e.g. transport operators, may use other age ranges. Please check
the facilities/services you require.
BOOKINGS
· Bookings can only be made for those intending to use
the accommodation, facilities or services at the time booked for. No
speculative bookings are permitted.
· All huts, rooms and campground bookings operate on a
first come first served basis and cannot be reserved unless the property allows
you to book a specific room/ bunk or campsite at time of booking.
· If multi day bookings are not utilised and no
contact is made with site office within 24 hours of first booked date, the
remainder of the booking will be cancelled, and no refund given.
· Proof of booking may be required when
accessing the facilities/services booked and must be shown to DOC staff and/or their
Agents on request.
· Use of booking implies acceptance of
accommodation, facility or service rules as listed against the accommodation, facility or service on the DOC webpages.
GENERAL RULES AND EXPECTED
BEHAVIOUR
· All accommodation and surrounds must
be left in a clean and tidy state.
· All rubbish must be taken with you on
departure.
· Users of accommodation sites keep
noise to a minimum between 10pm and 7am.
· No pets are permitted unless
authorised by DOC
· No Drones unless permitted by DOC
· Check out by 11am. Earliest Check in
time is 2pm
PRICES AND PAYMENTS
·
All
prices are in New Zealand dollars and include GST (Goods and Services Tax).
·
Full
payment is required at time of booking.
·
Accepted
credit cards are Mastercard and Visa.
·
Bookings
made online will automatically be charged to your credit card via the 3D secure
payment network. Card and/or Bank related security questions may need to be
completed.
·
Card
and security details are not held by DOC.
·
Any
fees for modifications made to a booking will be charged at the time the
modification is made.
·
Prices,
transport timetables and other details may change without notice.
PENALTY RATES
Penalty rates apply for invalid and un-booked use of accommodation or services.
·
Where
there is no valid booking, there is no guaranteed access to that service, or
other facilities.
·
Failure
to have a valid booking for a facility for the date of use will result in
penalty fees being charged.
·
The
penalty rate for all persons is the normal age fee plus the full adult fee for
that service.
MODIFICATIONS AND CANCELLATION POLICIES
General
· Booking refunds will only be made to the Account holders credit card or agent who made the original booking.
· Refunds for closures of facilities must be applied for no later than 7 days after the booked service date.
· For terms of booking a season is consider as 1 July to 30 June.
Modifications and/or transfer of Booking Dates
· Changes to party members details, date transfers and cancellations can only be made online by the Account holder.
· Bookings may be transferred only within the current booking season. Bookings outside the open booking period must be cancelled.
· Service fees of $10 may apply to alterations to a booking made at a DOC Visitor Centre not resulting in any additional cost or refund to the booking.
· Any additional fees will be charged at the time the modification is made.
· Any modification/cancellation resulting in a refund will be credited back to the credit card used to pay for the booking.
· Refunds will be processed at time changes are made and may take up to two weeks to appear on card statement.
· Where a modification is made, any amount reduced from the original booking total shall be subject to cancellation fees.
· No Shows will be cancelled with no refund given if no communication has been received within 24 hours of due arrival date.
Cancellations due to Natural Disasters
Where DOC advises of bad weather, or similar, that affects, but does not close or limit access to the facility:
· you may wish to proceed with your booking, or
· dates can be transferred free of charge to a later date in the same booking season, but no refund will be given, or
· booking can be cancelled, and standard cancellation fees would apply.
Where DOC closes a facility or cancels a service due to reasons including (but not exclusive to) storms, flooding, geological activity or a pandemic
· A full refund of the fee for the unused facilities will be given or a date transfer offered.
· Those visitors who have already started their trip/ booking may be required to leave before their trip/ booking is completed. In this case a full refund for unused night’s accommodation will be given.
· Refunds or rescheduling bookings due to facility/services closures must be applied for within 30 days.
· Visitors will only be rescheduled if there are vacancies available once the facility reopens.
·
If
the Department of Conservation has to reduce
accommodation space at its huts, lodges or campsites, for reasons including
(but not exclusive to) storms, flooding, geological activity or a pandemic,
then DOC will cancel and fully refund the most recently made bookings for any
affected dates (Last in – First out).
·
Refunds or rescheduling bookings due to facility/services closures must
be applied for within 30 days. No refunds will be given after
this time and trips will not be rescheduled.
Covid Related refunds:
The following Cancellation
Rules will apply to your booking regardless of the Covid level New Zealand was
at when your booking was made.
·
At Covid Level 2 or above a full refund will be
given up to 7 days prior to departure. 0-7 days normal cancellation fees will
apply but special circumstances refund requests will be considered.
·
At Covid Level 1 or below our normal
cancellation policy rules will apply, see full Terms and Conditions.
·
We strongly recommend International customers
hold off booking until they are sure they can undertake their travel.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Cancellations
· Cancellations can be made online and the cancellation fees in the table below apply.
· Modification and Service fees are non refundable.
· Medical cancelations will apply only to the person named on the medical certificate and one support person.
· Requests for medical refund must be emailed to the email address on the Booking Confirmation and must be accompanied by a copy of the medical certificate dated no more than weeks prior to current date.
Cancellation
fees.
The below table shows
percentage that will be charged if whole or part of the booking is cancelled.
|
|
Within 48 hours of booking |
48 hours after booking & 15 or
more days before arrival |
Between 14 days & 4 days before
arrival |
Between 3 days & 1 day before
arrival |
On or after day of arrival |
|
Lodges/Cabins Sole Occupancy Huts |
0% |
10% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
|
Huts and associated backcountry campsites Day use Lodges |
0% |
10% |
20% |
30% |
100% |
|
Campgrounds |
0% |
10% |
20% |
50% |
100% |
|
Guided Walks |
0% |
10% |
20% |
50% |
100% |
|
Permits |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
100% |
|
Medical Circumstances |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
Dates and times are based on NZ Standard Time
TRAVEL INSURANCE
· DOC recommends that you arrange travel insurance to guard against the loss of costs associated with cancellation or delay of your trip.
NON-DOC BOOKINGS
· DOC is unable to rearrange non-DOC booked transport, accommodation and flight bookings if delays should occur.
LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
· DOC will not be liable for injury, damage, delays or any costs incurred by visitors.
· Feedback
Updated
April 2021
Backcountry Hut Pass purchases
and use not meeting the following Terms and Conditions are treated as invalid
and will be cancelled by the Department of Conservation.
By accepting these terms and conditions you are also accepting conditions and
rules specific to the hut rules and will abide by the Hut Code of Conduct. These can be found at doc.govt.nz on the property web page.
These Terms and Conditions are
correct at time of publishing however DOC reserves the right to change these
Terms and conditions at any time without prior notice.
DEFINITIONS
In terms of this Document
Bookable:- Backcountry Huts on the DOC Booking system that require advance
booking to secure a bunk bed.
Hut: - a property with a collection
of campsites.
Bunk bed:- a individual bunk bed or place on platform bunk.
DOC:- The Department of Conservation
Non Bookable:- refers to DOC backcountry huts which operate on a first
come first served basis.
Pass:- The DOC Backcountry Hut Pass
Use:- making a booking or staying at a Backcountry Hut, whichever is the
earliest, and using the Pass as payment for the booking.
GENERAL
1. The
DOC Backcountry Hut Pass allows the person named on the pass to stay in a hut
at DOC Bookable or Unbookable – Backcountry Huts.
Exclusions are:
Angelus Hut 1 October to 30
April, Labour Day weekend (late October), Queen’s Birthday weekend (early June)
inclusive
Godley Hut 1 October to 30
April inclusive
Peach Cove 1 October to 30
April inclusive
Pinnacles Hut – Coromandel 1 October to 30 April inclusive
Puketi Forest Hut 1 October to 30 April inclusive
Sandy Bay Hut 1 October to 30 April inclusive
Siberia Hut 1 October to 30 April inclusive
Welcome Flat Hut 1 October to 30 April inclusive
Greenstone Caples Huts
1 October to 30 April inclusive – Greenstone Hut, Mckellar Hut, Mid Caples Hut
Rees Dart Huts 1 October to 30 April inclusive - Daleys
Flat Hut, Dart Hut, Shelter Rock Hut
Travers
Sabine Huts 1
October to 30 April inclusive, John Tait Hut, Lakehead Hut, Sabine Hut, Speargrass Hut, Upper Travers Hut, West Sabine Hut, Blue
Lake
Hut
All
Serviced Alpine Huts
Year Round
·
Aspiring Hut
·
Barron Saddle Hut
·
Centennial Hut
·
Colin Todd
Hut
·
Empress Hut
·
French Ridge Hut
·
Kelman Hut
·
Mueller Hut
·
Pioneer Hut
·
Plateau Hut
·
Tasman Saddle Hut
Summer Period
·
Brewster Hut 1 December to 30 April inclusive
·
Liverpool Hut 1 December to 30 April inclusive
All Private and Club Huts on
DOC Managed Land -
year round – including but not exclusive to
Esquilant
Bivvy Hut
Homer Hut
MacAnlay
Hut
Mid Greenstone Hut
Rod Donald Hut
Te Whare Okioki
Upper Caples Hut
Whangaehu Hut
All Sole Occupancy Accommodations and Lodges - year round
Te Kopi Cottage & Homestead
Waikuku Lodge
The Camphouse – Mt Taranaki
Konini Lodge
Fletcher Bay Backpacjers
Stony Bay Bach
Waikawau Lodge
Tiritiri Matangi
Holdsworth Lodge & Kaka& Kereru Rooms
Pohangina Base
Kawhatau Base
Nydia Lodge
Cobb Cottage
Sierra Room – Welcome Flat
Mimiwhangata Lodge, Cottage and
Beach House
Cookson & Kauri Cottages
Motuora Island Bach
Robsons Lodge
Waiuta Lodge
All Orongoronga Valley Huts,
Boar Inn, Haurangi Hut, Jans
Hut, Papatahi Hut, Raukawa Hut, Turere
Lodge
Coast Road Cabin
All accommodation on Matiu Somes Island
All Great Walks Huts
Year Round
·
Abel Tasman – Anchorage Hut, Awaroa
Hut, Bark Bay Hut, Whariwharangi Hut
·
Heaphy – Brown Hut, Gouland
Downs Hut, Heaphy Hut, James Mackay Hut, Lewis Hut, Perry Saddle Hut, Saxon Hut
·
Lake Waikaremoana – Marauiti
Hut, Panekire Hut, Waiharuru
Hut, Waiopaoa Hut, Whanhanui
Hut
·
Paparoa - Moonlight Hut, Pororari
Hut
·
Rakiura - North Arm
Hut, Port William Hut
Summer Period
·
Kepler Tuesday after Labour weekend (late
October) to 30th April inclusive – Iris Burn Hut, Luxmore Hut, Moturau Hut
·
Milford Tuesday after Labour weekend (late
October) to 30th April inclusive – Clinton Hut, Dumpling Hut, Mintaro Hut
·
Routeburn Tuesday after Labour weekend (late
October) to 30th April inclusive - Mackenzie Hut, Routeburn Falls
Hut, Routeburn Flats Hut
·
Tongariro Northern Circuit Friday before Labour
weekend (late October) to 30th April inclusive - Mangatepopo
Hut, Oturere Hut, Waihohonu
Hut
·
Whanganui Journey – John Coull
Hut, Tieke Kainga Hut, Whakahoro
Bunkroom
1. Passes
are for individuals only and a Pass is required for each adult, child/youth
intending to use the Backcountry Huts on the Pass system.
2. Passes
are non- transferrable.
3. The
Pass does not give preference to stay at bookable Backcountry Huts. Where the
Hut is listed on the DOC website as bookable, Pass holders must make a valid
booking for the number of people and dates they wish to stay to secure a site.
4. The
Backcountry Hut Pass does not give preference to staying at non bookable. Non Bookable Backcountry Huts operate on a first come first
served basis with payment required by Backcountry Huts Pass or Hut Tickets.
5. No
other discount/promotion code or Pass can be used in conjunction with the Back
Country Hut Pass.
6.
Use of Pass implies acceptance of hut rules as
listed on the Hut page on the DOC webpages and if applicable Booking Terms and
Conditions.
7. All
correspondence regarding the Pass must be received from or will be sent to the
email address listed on the account created to purchase the Pass. Account holders can change details of their
account online.
8. Commercial
and/or guided groups are not permitted to purchase or use Passes for their
staff or customers unless authorised by a DOC concession.
9. The
Department of Conservation can revoke your Backcountry Hut Pass at any time if
the conditions of purchase are not being met.
10. Passes
can only be used during the date range pass is valid for.
11. Maximum
consecutive stay at a single hut when utilising the Pass is 2 (two) nights.
A period of 7 (seven) nights must pass before the Pass can be used to stay at
the hut again.
AGE CATEGORIES
12. The
age categories below apply at time stay at DOC Backcountry Huts.
13. Persons
aged 14 years and under must be accompanied by an adult.
|
|
Adult |
Child/Youth |
Infant/Child |
|
Huts |
18 years plus |
11-17 years |
0-10 years |
14. A
User/Household account must be created to purchase a Pass and make any
subsequent bookings. Information required to create an account is first and
family names, hometown and country and a valid email address and phone number
at the time of booking.
15. Additional
passes can be purchased by the account holder on behalf of family members by
suppling names and ages of those 17 years and under.
16. Passes
are valid for 1 year (365 nights) or 6 calendar months from the date nominated
when purchasing.
17. Backcountry
Hut Passes can only be purchased through the DOC Booking System or at DOC
visitor centres.
BOOKED HUTS
18.
Backcountry Hut Passes cannot be retrospectively
applied as payment to bookings already made.
19. Passes
are not valid at sites listed in the exclusion list.
20.
Where a hut is listed on the DOC website as
bookable, Backcountry Hut Pass holders must make a valid booking for the number
of people and dates they wish to stay.
21.
No speculative bookings are permitted.
22. Only
one Hut can be booked per night.
23.
Children 14 years and under must be accompanied
by an adult on site.
24. Passes
can only be used to book huts in date range pass is valid for.
NON
BOOKABLE HUTS
27. Maximum
consecutive stay at a hut when utilising the pass is 3 nights.
28. Pass
users will need to register at the hut by entering name and pass number in the
hut book.
29. Children
14 years and under must be accompanied by an adult on site.
30. Backcountry
Hut Passes and ID must be shown to DOC staff or their Agents on the track to or
at huts.
31. Passes
can only be used at huts in date range pass is valid for.
PRICES AND PAYMENTS
32. All
prices are in New Zealand dollars and include GST (Goods and Services Tax).
33. Full
payment is required at time of purchase.
34. Accepted
credit cards are Mastercard and Visa.
35. Purchases
of a Backcountry Hut Pass made online will automatically be charged to your
credit card via the 3D secure payment network. Card and/or Bank related
security questions may need to be complete the transaction.
36. Card
and security details are not held by DOC.
|
Age Group |
6 month pass |
1 year -365 night pass |
|
Adult ( 18
years plus) |
$108 |
$44 |
|
Child (5-17 years) |
$54 |
$72 |
|
Infant (0-4 years) |
$0 |
$0 |
37. Passes are Non Refundable after 48
hours of purchase, or after a booking is made using the pass as payment or on
or after first nominated date of use, whichever is the earliest.
38.
Booked huts must be cancelled if pass holder is
no longer intending to stay at the booked hut.
39.
Passes can not be
modified after purchase.
Updated
April 2021
Campsite Pass purchases and use
not meeting the following Terms and Conditions are treated as invalid and will
be cancelled by the Department of Conservation.
By accepting these terms and conditions you are also accepting local site rules
and for booked campsites, Booking Terms and Conditions. These can be found at doc.govt.nz on the property web page.
These Terms and Conditions are correct
at time of publishing however DOC reserves the right to change these Terms and
conditions at any time without prior notice.
DEFINITIONS
In terms of this Document
Bookable:- Campgrounds on the DOC Booking
system that require advance booking to secure a campsite.
Campground: - a property with a
collection of campsites.
Campsite:- a site/place occupied by tent, caravan or campervan within
Campground.
DOC:- The Department of Conservation
Non Bookable/Self Registration:- refers to DOC campsites which operate
on a first come first served basis and self registration
at site is required.
Pass:- The DOC Campsite Pass
Use:- making a booking or staying at a Campground whichever is the
earliest
DOC Agent:- Contracted third-party managers or
volunteer camp-hots at select DOC campgrounds
GENERAL
41. The
DOC Campsite Pass allows the person named on the pass to stay in a tent, campervan or caravan at DOC Bookable or Unbookable – Self Registration
campsites.
42. Seasonal
Exclusions - 26
December to 8 February inclusive are:
-
All Serviced Campgrounds Kerr Bay, Pelorus Bridge, Momorangi, Peel Forest , Trounson Kauri Park
-
Totaranui Campground
43. Seasonal Exclusions – 1 July to 30 June
inclusive
-
All Great Walk Campsites
-
All Backcountry Campsites = Blumine
Island, Billy Goat Basin, Cannibal Cove, Davies Bay, Ferndale, Graces Stream, Jacobs
Bay, Kumutoto Bay, Ngaruru Bay,
Nydia Bay, Pipi Beach, Putanui Point, Schoolhouse
Bay, Tawa Bay, Wharehunga Bay
-
All Campground cabins, cottages, baches, lodges
and bunkhouses
-
All Te Urewera campsites – Te Pakau (Eight Acre), Mokau Landing,
Omahuru (Olilvies), Rosie
Bay, Te Taita )
Makaro landing, Orangihikoia
campgrounds
-
Lake Waikaremona
Holiday Park
-
Whakapapa Holiday Park
-
Wentworth Valley Campground
-
Moke Lake
-
12 Mile Delta
-
All campsites next to Backcountry Huts
44. Passe-are
for individuals only and a Pass is required for each adult, child/youth
intending to use the campgrounds on the Pass system.
45. Passes
are non- transferrable.
46. Use
of the Pass implies acceptance of campground rules as listed on the individual campground
page on the DOC website and applicable Booking Terms and Conditions
47. All
correspondence regarding the Pass must be received from and will be sent to the
email address listed on the account created to purchase the Pass. Account holders can update their account details
online.
48. Commercial
and/or guided groups are not permitted to purchase or use Passes for their
staff or customers, unless authorised in a DOC concession. Click
here for information and contact details to arrange a concession.
49. The
Department of Conservation can revoke your campsite pass at any time if the conditions
of purchase are not being met.
50. Passes
can only be used during the date range the pass is valid for.
51. The
Pass is not intended as a season pass for one single campground. A Pass can be
used for up to 7 nights during a 30-day period at each campground.
52.
No other discount/promotion code or Pass can be
used in conjunction with the Camp Pass.
AGE CATEGORIES
53. The
age categories below apply at time stay at Campground
54. Persons
aged 14 years and under must be accompanied by an adult.
|
|
Adult |
Child/Youth |
Infant/Child |
|
Campgrounds |
18 years plus |
5-17 years |
0-4 years |
PURCHASING
55. A
User/Household account must be created to purchase a Pass before you can book a
Campground using your Pass.
56.
To create an account, we require your first and
family names, hometown and country and a valid email address and phone number. Please refer to DOC’s Privacy
Policy for how DOC may use this information.
57. Additional
passes can be purchased by the account holder on behalf of family members by
suppling names and ages of those 17 years and under.
58. Passes
are valid for 1 year (365 nights) or 30 consecutive nights or 7
consecutive nights from the Pass’ nominated start date, chosen when purchasing
your Pass.
59. Campsite
passes can only be purchased through the DOC Booking System or at DOC visitor
centres.
BOOKED CAMPSITES
60. Where
the campground is listed on the DOC website as bookable, camp pass holders must
make a valid booking for the number of people and dates they wish to stay.
61. Passes
cannot be retrospectively applied to bookings already made.
62. No
speculative bookings are permitted.
63. Only
one Campground can be booked per night.
64. Only
when the number of people with passes being booked exceeds number of people
permitted per site additional sites can be booked.
66. Users
will need to check in at the camp office, visitor centre or with campsite manger
if on site.
67. Proof
of a DOC campsite pass must be available on request by DOC staff or their Agents
68. Booked
campsites must be cancelled if pass holder is no longer going to stay at the booked
campground. Failure to cancel may lead to campsite pass/es being revoked.
NON BOOKABLE - SELF REGISTRATION CAMPSITES
69. The
Campsite Pass does not give preference to staying at non bookable
- self registration campsites which operate on a
first come first served basis.
70. On
arrival, Pass users will need to register at the camp by using a self-registration
envelopes/documents.
71. Proof
of a DOC campsite pass must be available on request by DOC staff or their Agents
PRICES AND PAYMENTS
72. All
prices are in New Zealand dollars and include GST (Goods and Services Tax).
73. Full
payment is required at time of purchase.
74. Accepted
credit cards are Mastercard and Visa.
75. Purchases
of Camp Passes made online will automatically be charged to your credit card via
the 3D secure payment network. Card and/or Bank related security questions may
need to be completed.
76. Card
and security details are not held by DOC.
CANCELLATION POLICIES
77. Passes are Non Refundable after
48 hours of purchase, or after a booking is made using the pass as payment or on
or after first nominated date of use, whichever is the earliest.
78. For
booked campsites No-shows may have their entire booking cancelled if pass
holder fails to commence stay or fails to contact the campground office by 10am
the day after first night booked.
79. Booked
campsites must be cancelled if pass holder is no longer going to stay at the booked
campground.
80. Passes
can not be modified after purchase.