What We Do

Hut Finder pulls live availability data from the Department of Conservation and shows it on an interactive map, grouped by date. You pick your dates, we show you which huts have beds. Free users see the next 14 days; Pro users see up to 6 months ahead. We specifically track the ~160 huts, cabins, lodges, and cottages that are bookable directly on the official DOC website.

How It Works

Data Freshness

Availability is fetched from DOC's systems and cached for up to 2 hours, so there may be a short delay between a booking made on DOC and it appearing here. Always confirm availability on the official DOC website before travelling, especially for bookable huts during peak season.

Hut Finder Pro

The free tier shows 14 days of availability — enough for most weekend trampers. Pro unlocks 6 months of visibility, which is essential for planning Great Walks (Milford, Routeburn, Tongariro, etc.) that open bookings well in advance. Pro is a subscription to this tool only — your hut fees are paid separately to DOC as always.

What Is DOC?

DOC — the Department of Conservation — is New Zealand's government agency responsible for managing national parks, conservation land, and a network of over 950 backcountry huts. Hut Finder specifically tracks the ~160 of these that are bookable directly on the DOC website. Huts range from basic six-bunk shelters to Great Walk lodges with bunks, cooking facilities, and heating. DOC operates all bookings and collects all hut fees directly.

Great Walks

New Zealand's nine Great Walks are the country's most iconic multi-day tramping routes. They require advance booking through DOC and fill up fast — sometimes months ahead. Hut Finder Pro's 6-month window is designed specifically for this planning window.