There are a number of tracks across New Zealand that are available for commercial guided day walking if certain conditions are followed. These are called ‘conforming’ tracks.

You must have a permit from DOC to undertake commercial activities on public conservation land. This includes commercial guided walking or guided tours.

You can apply for a conforming tracks permit if you want to undertake guided day walking on specific DOC tracks listed on the conforming track schedules.

Guided day walking is defined as:

A commercial operation in which the operator receives financial gain or reward for offering their services.
Walking only (that is, the concession does not include other guided activities that also require a permit, for example hunting, fishing, rock climbing or mountain biking).
The entirety of the walk is on an established track or tracks, which are built, owned and maintained by DOC.
The duration of the walk is under 8 hours, and
No sleeping arrangements are required (that is, no overnight or multi-day walks).

For more information on how DOC identified public conservation land track(s) suitable for guided day walking, see: Guided day walks position statement (PDF, 73K)

If your commercial guiding or other activity is on public conservation land and does not meet the conforming tracks definition, or uses tracks not listed in the conforming track schedules, you’ll need to submit a land-based guiding application.

Application forms and details: Land-based guided activities

Apply for a conforming tracks concession

Application forms

Fill in the conforming guided walking permit application form (PDF, 443K) or (DOCX, 227K).

Download the relevant conforming track schedules and tick which tracks you wish to apply for. Ensure you use the most up to date schedules on the DOC website, otherwise your application will be returned.

Email the application form and track schedules to permissions@doc.govt.nz.

Fees

We charge an application processing fee.

The processing fee will depend on the number of tracks where you are proposing activity in your application. The minimum processing fee is $740 plus GST for applications for guiding activities on up to 10 tracks.

Another $90 plus GST minimum processing fee is charged for every additional 10 tracks included in the application:

11 – 20 tracks costs $830 plus GST (minimum fee)
21 – 30 tracks costs $920 plus GST (minimum fee)

If your application is approved, annual concession management, activity and monitoring fees will apply.

Processing timeframe

Conforming tracks applications are generally processed in 20 working days of being received. You will be advised if your application is expected to take longer.

Health and safety requirements

To undertake guided walking on public conservation land you require a safety plan. For guided walking on conforming tracks, you can submit a Concessions health and safety compliance self-declaration as assurance you have an appropriate safety plan in place.

You can complete and submit the Concessions health and safety compliance self-declaration (PDF, 455K) form with your conforming tracks application. Alternatively, if you do not provide the self-declaration form with your application (and your application is approved and a concession granted) you will be asked to complete the self-declaration at the end of the application process.

For more information on safety plan requirements see safety plans.

Conforming track schedules

The schedules below list the tracks that are available for guided walking in each region. Ensure you use the most up to date schedules, otherwise your application will be returned.

Note that tracks listed on the schedules are subject to change and may be added or removed dependent if they meet the current guided day walks policy.

Under a conforming tracks permit, we are only able to grant tracks currently listed on these schedules.

North Island

South Island

What happens next

We will send you an email advising the outcome of your application. You will also be invoiced the application processing fee, regardless of the decision made on your application.

If your application is approved

You will be sent a conforming tracks permit. You must sign and return your permit within the requested timeframe. Failure to return a permit may result in your application being cancelled.

Your permit will set out the specific conforming tracks you can guide on as well as the special conditions you must adhere to.

If you want to request changes to your permit after a decision has been made, you will need to apply for a variation. Fill in the conforming guided walking permit application form (PDF, 443K) or (DOCX, 227K), indicating in section C that you are varying an existing concession. Application fees will apply.

Contact us

For more information regarding the conforming tracks application process and/or an active concession, contact the National Transaction Centre at transactioncentre@doc.govt.nz