There have been, and will continue to be, nights when particular huts and campsites are fully booked - but there is likely to be space available at others.
Total bookings for the full Whanganui Journey/Great Walk during the year to June 2022 are 1857, for 17,212 bed nights.
Since December 15 everyone aged over 12 and spending the night at a DoC facility must be double vaccinated. People booking will be asked their vaccination status.
It will be checked by wardens at huts and campsites, and spot-checked at other places.
"Visitors will need to make a judgment on whether they are comfortable with that," Newton said.
There will also be QR codes at park entrances and exits, and at huts and campsites.
The Whanganui Journey is very different from New Zealand's other Great Walks, Newton said.
It's a three to five-day paddle between Taumarunui and Pipiriki, and not a walk. To do it without a guide people have to be confident swimmers, have experience in a canoe and be fit enough to paddle for six to seven hours a day.
"If you aren't an experienced canoe user or are travelling alone, book a guided trip instead," Newton said.
In this new year, DoC's Whanganui office is open to the public only by prior appointment.
Across the street from it, the Whanganui i-SITE can sell individual Backcountry Hut tickets (serviced and non-serviced) and handle inquiries and new bookings for the Whanganui Journey and other Great Walks, said Whanganui & Partners acting chief executive Jonathan Sykes.
The i-SITE can also amend or cancel bookings if they were made originally with it.
There is a DoC iPad in the i-SITE where people can book online for any of the services the i-SITE is unable to provide.
Annual hut passes can be accessed by ringing or emailing DoC's Kapiti visitor centre - 04 384-7770 or wellingtonvc@doc.govt.nz. Hunting permits can be requested through DoC's Whanganui website, whanganui@doc.govt.nz, or by emailing whanganui@doc.govt.nz.
