2011 Key Summit Day Visitor Survey Research Completed

Title

2011 Key Summit Day Visitor Survey

Lead Author

Michael Harbrow , Lyndsay Murray

Organisation(s)

Department of Conservation

Publication Year

2011

Publisher

Department of Conservation

Contacts

Michael Harbrow

Science & Capability Group, Department of Conservation, Wellington

mharbrow@doc.govt.nz

Abstract

This report summarises the results of a survey of 402 day walkers on the Key Summit Track, Fiordland National Park, carried out in early 2011. Surveying was undertaken as part of a wider programme to assess aircraft effects at sites along the Milford Aerodrome flight path and to build up a picture of use and satisfaction at sites within Fiordland National Park. It follows a similar survey undertaken in 2007. In this report results have been compared with the 2007 survey and with those from other walks in the region.

Respondents were found to be highly satisfied with their experience on the Key Summit Track.  More than 90% of respondents were satisfied with the track and car park facilities and more than 90% agreed that they had felt safe on the track, been able to experience nature and scenery and been able to relax and reduce stress. Most aspects of the experience on the Key Summit Track scored well in comparison to other tracks in the region. The average satisfaction score was 8.1 out of 10.

The effects of aircraft, large or commercial groups and crowding along with interpretation and visitor flows around Howden Hut were all identified as areas for further monitoring and management. Aircraft were found to have annoyed a moderate number of respondents at Key Summit in 2011, however, annoyance had not changed significantly since 2007 and remained well below the 25% management threshold set in the Fiordland National Park Management Plan. Moderate levels of annoyance were also recorded for large groups and for commercial / guided groups but annoyance had also not changed significantly since the previous survey. Crowding increased from 41% in 2007 to 51% in 2011.

The report includes a number of recommendations for ongoing monitoring and management of the Key Summit Track.

 

Keywords: Fiordland, Routeburn, Impacts, Participation

 

How to access

For information on how to access the full text of this article, go to http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/about-doc/role/key-summit-day-visitor-survey-sept-2011.pdf or contact your local or organisational library for assistance

Areas of Focus

Population Groups

Settings (location)

Provision (delivery type & infrastructure)

Topics

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1483

Added

July 19, 2013

Last Modified

May 6, 2015