DOC HUT TICKETS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

If you’re looking into buying some DOC Hut Tickets that means you’re going for at least an overnight, or potentially multiday hike. That’s exciting!

It’s easy to buy DOC Hut Tickets, and the whole system is straightforward. But this post will give you a bit more information you may need.

Note: The prices of DOC Hut Tickets, and most huts increased in price mid-2023.

DOC HUT TICKETS: FAQS

Where to buy DOC Hut Tickets?

There are lots of DOC Hut Ticket Retailers throughout the country so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting your hands on them (some retailers will sell out over the summer). You can buy hut tickets in most Macpac, Kathmandu, and Hunting & Fishing stores.

Here’s a complete list of retailers.

Can I buy DOC Hut Tickets online?

Yes!

You can online with Macpac.

This will be the best option for some of you, just make sure you purchase them in advance so they arrive in time.

They can also make for a great gift for hikers…buy them lots of standard hut tickets.

What tickets do I need?

There are different prices (and colours) for standard huts and serviced huts.

Serviced Huts

• Adults: $25 (green tickets)
• Youth (5 to 17 years): $12.50 (red tickets)
• Children (under 5 years): free

Standard Huts

• Adults: $10 (blue tickets)
• Youth (5 to 17 years): $5 (yellow tickets)
• Children (under 5 years): free

You’ll notice some huts are different prices, for example, Brewster Hut is $40 from May 1st to Labour Weekend. In this case you use one serviced four blue tickets.

Can I use cash instead of hut tickets?

No. But if you really must, putting cash in the honesty box at the huts is better than not using tickets and fixing things later. Because…we forget.

Is it worth getting a DOC Hut Pass instead of using tickets?

It depends on a few things, but you do need to stay the night at quite a few huts throughout the year to make it worth getting a DOC Backcountry Hut Pass.

For example, a 1-year pass for adults is $160. If you were staying huts where a standard ticket is required, you’d only be better off with a hut pass if you stay in 29 of them. That’s quite a lot!

But if you’re planning to do a couple of the great walks in the offseason or hikes like Brewster above, they become great value.

Do some rough calculations and you’ll have an idea of whether it’s worth getting hut tickets or a pass.

And a hut pass is way much less admin 😉

Do you have to book huts in advance?

In most cases no. But always check the status of the huts directly on the DOC website for the latest information as this can change.

Do DOC Hut Tickets expire?

No, they do not expire in most cases…DOC would like retailers to write an expiry date of one year on them, but this never seems to be done in practice.

So if you want to stockpile lots of tickets at home, go for gold.

FINAL NOTE ON PAYING WITH DOC HUT TICKETS

Please pay for all of the DOC Huts and campgrounds you use!

There’s a quote I like (not sure of its origins):

“Your character is what you do when nobody is watching.”

So just because there might not be a DOC hut warden at the hut, if you’re a half-decent person you’ll still put your hut ticket in the HONESTY box.

The funds from the DOC Hut Tickets go toward the maintenance of the huts and tracks and how good are they!

There’s some interesting data in this post, but they do mention that a standard hut (the most basic hut) costs $NZ5,000 – NZ$6,000 annually. The better the hut, the higher the cost.

So your five bucks here and there certainly helps!

And there are lots of huts around the country where you can stay for FREE! Heather Jock Hut on the Mount Judah Track for example.

---

If you have any questions about buying/using DOC hut tickets, let me know in the comments below or email jub@churnewzealand.com.

WHAT TO READ NEXT

Check out some of these hikes that feature some of my favourite tracks to stay at:

• Dart Hut on the Rees Dart Hike
• Siberia Hut on the Gillespie Track