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.''
