The Save Fiordland campaign group collected more than 300 signatures and even had "some helpers" who joined the "gnuffs" - Gnomes of Fiordland Forest.
Because the weather turned wet, Ms Cardno said the group was not out on Wellington's main shopping strip, Lambton Quay, long but she was "thrilled" with the support and signatures received in a short time.
"People didn't sign it lightly. They were signing it because they cared."
Riverstone Holdings has proposed a 43km monorail from a terminus in the Mararoa River valley to Te Anau Downs, while Milford Dart Ltd has proposed an 11.3km commercial tunnel from the Mt Aspiring National Park to the Fiordland National Park. Both would be shorter routes for tourists.
Earlier this year, the Minister of Conservation approved both projects, in principle.
Ms Cardno said while the Stop the Tunnel group had been gathering signatures online, Save Fiordland had been doing a paper petition.
"We have got our petition everywhere. It [the signatures] would be in the thousands now.
"We will be putting them throughout New Zealand ... our main objective is to get these petition forms out to everyone.
"Today was just about making a statement. We all happened to be in Wellington."
Ms Cardno said the monorail would not bring any more tourism revenue to the region but would alter the tourist flow, affecting 29 small communities.
She said she loved the Hollyford Valley, where the tunnel would be started.
"It's a real spiritual experience and to be there where there's nothing man-made - it's amazing."
The online petition against the Milford Dart Tunnel has garnered more than 27,000 signatures since it began in April. In August, with 25,000 signatures, it was presented to Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, to be considered by the Local Government and Environment select committee
