Up to 40 trampers a day can take guided overnight trips on
the Routeburn Track after the Department of Conservation
(Doc) signed a new 20-year concession with Routeburn Walk Ltd
(RWL).
The concession almost doubled the number on the Great Walk
from 24 customers a day. It also renewed the RWL guided
walking operation on the Greenstone Track as well as leases
for three lodges and associated infrastructure on
conservation land.
The lodges are at Routeburn Falls, Lake McKenzie and Lake
McKellar. A fourth lodge at Steele Creek, in the Greenstone
Valley, is on private land.
Doc Wakatipu area manager Greg Lind said yesterday the
Routeburn and Greenstone were world-class experiences for
both guided and independent walkers.
''While this concession allows RWL to grow its business, it
also has sufficient conditions to ensure the experience is
maintained for all.''
Concession conditions included limits on group size along the
track and monitoring of the effects of activities.
RWL general manager Noel Saxon said the Queenstown-based
company was pleased with the outcome.
''We now have the certainty to develop our product and intend
to work with Doc to maintain the Routeburn experience for
both our customers and the general public.''
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