- 2026/27 stays
- 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027
- Opening time (2026)
- 9:30 am
- First opening (2026)
- Tuesday 12 May 2026, Paparoa Track
- Last opening (2026)
- Thursday 21 May 2026, Tongariro Northern Circuit and Rakiura Track
- 2027/28 dates
- Not announced by DOC
The 2026 opening days, walk by walk
All times are 9:30 am New Zealand time. These dates are for stays between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027 and have already passed.
- Tuesday 12 May 2026: Paparoa Track
- Wednesday 13 May 2026: Milford Track
- Thursday 14 May 2026: Abel Tasman Coast Track
- Friday 15 May 2026: Routeburn Track
- Tuesday 19 May 2026: Kepler Track
- Wednesday 20 May 2026: Heaphy Track, Whanganui Journey and Lake Waikaremoana Track
- Thursday 21 May 2026: Tongariro Northern Circuit and Rakiura Track
What is known about 2027/28
Nothing is published yet. DOC's track pages and its 2026 release carry no 2027 dates. This page will change once DOC publishes them, and the date shown at the foot of the page is the day the facts were last read.
Until then, treat the walk order above as last year's. DOC can change both the days and the time.
How to prepare for an opening day
Pick two or three start dates for the walk you want, agree them with your group, and keep payment details ready. DOC uses a virtual queue on opening days, and its release does not say how it orders people.
Our guide on how to book a Great Walk explains what you are booking and what changes afterwards.
Questions
When do Great Walks bookings open for 2027?
DOC has not announced the 2027/28 dates. In 2026 the bookings opened at 9:30 am on days between 12 and 21 May, announced on 26 March 2026.
When did Milford Track bookings open for 2026/27?
At 9:30 am on Wednesday 13 May 2026.
What time do Great Walk bookings open?
At 9:30 am New Zealand time in 2026, with a virtual queue. DOC may change this.
Sources
Facts checked against the pages above on 30 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules change; confirm them on the agency's page before you pay.
In an emergency in New Zealand, call 111.