Waterfalls top spot for Bay explorers

The Huka Falls in the Taupo area are the most popular spot in the Bay this year.

Hawke's Bay people are inclined to head out of the region to explore New Zealand's conservation land, according to a survey.

A total of 168 Hawke's Bay people completed a Nielsen survey prepared for DoC about their attitudes towards, understanding of, and participation in conservation activities.

The Huka Falls in the Taupo area was the place those surveyed were most likely to have visited.

The survey showed 28 per cent of respondents had visited the area in the 12 months prior to the 2014 survey.

The next most popular site was Te Urewera National Park followed by Tongariro National Park.

Glenda Hooper of Heretaunga Tramping Club said the club liked to visit three huts it owned in the Kaweka and Ruahine ranges and spent time maintaining and renovating them.

Ms Hooper said Hawke's Bay offered good variety for trampers. The Kaweka Ranges had great views and were quite different to the more bush-clad Ruahine Ranges.

This weekend the club would visit Kinloch near Taupo. It often visited Waikaremoana and Whirinaki Forest, between Rotorua and Waikaremoana. The club also spent time in the Tararua Ranges.

The Nielsen survey showed nationally, nearly three quarters of New Zealanders said they had visited at least one DoC recreation area in the past 12 months, up on 71 per cent in 2013.

The main activity carried out during their most recent visit was sightseeing or taking a short walk, according to the survey.

Ms Hooper said the increase in visitors was a positive thing.

"It makes people more aware of their environment and perhaps more likely to protect it," she said.

She did not think the additional visitors were causing any trouble on DoC tracks.

The Nielsen survey showed satisfaction with the parks and places administered by DoC was high with 80 per cent rating their experience 4 or 5, with 5 being very satisfied.

New Zealanders considered the top two benefits of conservation to them personally were protecting animals and plants and protecting the natural environment for their children.

Nearly three quarters of New Zealanders had a favourable view of the Department of Conservation, down on 79 per cent in 2013.

Of those who had an unfavourable opinion, the key reason related to animal or pest control particularly regarding the use of 1080 poison, according to the survey.

DoC media adviser Lizzy Sutcliffe said it had been a good year.

Overnight stays for DoC's nine Great Walks had gone up by 20.2 per cent in the three years to June.

The Whanganui Journey was up 16 per cent, Tongariro Northern Circuit up 16.4 per cent and Lake Waikaremoana Track up 9.5 per cent.

Numbers were also up on DoC-managed cycle trails around the North Island, said Ms Sutcliffe. Visitor numbers increased 47 per cent on The Hauraki Rail Trail between January 2013 and January 2014, Waikato River Trail had a 30 per cent increase, Motu Trail on the East Coast had a 165 per cent increase and visitors increased 81 per cent on the Mountains to Sea trail in the central North Island.