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New Zealand
> National Parks
 New
Zealand's National Parks, scenic reserves and wilderness areas have
something for all from scenic drives, picnicking, treks, swimming, kayaking,
mountaineering, rock or ice climbing, skiing, scenic flights, glacier landings,
caving, orienteering and many other activities.
Unless you are going with a
guide or just picnicking along the road side, your first stop should be the
park information centre where you can get maps and the latest weather
information and anything else that may make your adventure into the park
safe and enjoyable. You can also learn the parks history and about the
wildlife you may encounter.
The Department of Conservation
(DOC)
administers the majority of the publicly owned land in New Zealand that is
protected for scenic, scientific, historic and cultural reasons, or set
aside for recreational purposes. More than 8 million ha – nearly 30 percent
of the nation's total area – are administered by the department.
There are 13 national parks,
covering just under 2.5 million ha, 20 forest parks covering some 1.8
million ha, about 3,500 reserves covering around 1.5 million ha, and some
61,000 ha of protected private land and covenants that have been set aside
for scenic, scientific or ecological reasons. The department also has
responsibility for the preservation and management of wildlife, and has a
role in management of the coastal marine area with 16 marine reserves and
two other protected marine areas from the Kermadec Islands to Fiordland.
The parks in brief.
Warning:
Unfortunately many people die every year though accident or becoming lost,
so if you are going into the forest for more than a few hours, it is
vital that you sign in and register your intentions as many people do
become lost and need rescued. At present rescue services are local
volunteers and with the present trend in public carelessness may soon become
professionalized and insurance compulsory to enter the parks.
See Tramping Information.
In all national parks there are easy access
trails, of which many are suitable for wheel chairs to go a few hundred
meters into the forests. There are many maintained trails where you can walk
for hours or many days to completely get away from the bustle and noise of
civilization.
Most parks will have some Red
Deer, others have Chamois, Thar, Goats, Pigs (which can be dangerous),
Wapiti, opossums, stoats and weasels, fish and many birds. In some parks,
wasps are a menace during summer.
National Parks have
accommodation available from freedom camping, to huts and hotels within the
parks and day shelters for day trippers.
National Parks are administered/managed by The Department of
Conservation (DOC established in 1987) and include:
National Parks, conservation areas, scenic reserves and conservation areas
Protected indigenous forests
Protected inland waters and wild and scenic rivers
Indigenous/native wildlife
Non-commercial freshwater fisheries
Historic places on conservation land
Marine reserves and protecting marine mammals offshore islands set aside for
conservation
DOC Website
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