Whanganui National Park rated No5

DAYBREAK: Wanganui trampers are silhouetted at dawn during a trip in Ruahine Forest Park.PHOTO/SUPPLIED P1040034

Whanganui National Park is a favourite conservation area among locals and the Bridge to Nowhere is popular nationwide.

A total of 221 people in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region completed a Nielsen survey prepared for the Department of Conservation about their attitudes towards, understanding of, and participation in conservation activities.

The Manawatu Gorge Walkway was the place those surveyed were most likely to have visited. The survey showed 32 per cent of respondents had visited the area in the 12 months before the 2014 survey. The next most popular site was Huka Falls, followed by Tongariro National Park.

Whanganui National Park came in at No5 on the list.

The Bridge to Nowhere was No10 on a list of the country's most visited historic sites. North Head in Auckland was No1.

Wanganui Tramping Club life member David Scoullar said Wanganui had three national parks on its doorstep. The club visited Egmont National Park frequently. It also visited Tongariro and Whanganui National Parks, though there wasn't as much tramping available in the Whanganui park.

The group also visited the Ruahines and Tararuas and did mountainbiking as well as tramping.

Mr Scoullar said the club had more than 200 members, though not all of them were active members, and did several walks each week.

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.

Mr Scoullar said the more people who went tramping the better. Many of the huts the group visited were relatively remote and it was very rare that there wouldn't be space for club members there.

It would be good to promote tramping to more young people, he said.

The Nielsen survey showed satisfaction with the parks and places administered by DoC was high with 80 per cent rating their experience four or five, with five 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 DoC, 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 advisor Lizzy Sutcliffe said it had been a good year across the board for visitor numbers.

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

Of the North Island Great Walks, 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 also looked to be rising 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.