Planning for visitor management at Mason Bay (Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island)

Wray, K, Harbrow, M & Kazmierow, B

Department of Conservation

2005

Science & Technical Publishing, Department of Conservation

rakiuravc@doc.govt.nz

www.doc.govt.nz

Mason Bay forms part of the North West and Southern Circuit tramping tracks on Stewart Island, New Zealand and is an increasingly popular destination for trampers, hunters and day visitors. The area provides a special remote experience and is nationally recognised as possessing unique conservation values. Visitation levels at Mason Bay have grown significantly in recent times.

This has raised management concerns about visitor impacts on the natural environment and the recreation experience. This research was undertaken to explore management and stakeholder concerns, and to provide baseline data on visitor flows and impacts. The project comprised three stages; firstly stakeholders and managers were consulted in order to identify values and concerns. These concerns provided a basis for a field research programme to empirically measure resource values and impacts. Research data were then reported back to stakeholders in order to assess limits of acceptable change.

Findings illustrated that, at present, the majority of visitor impacts are social, and are likely to be due to the increasing diversity of visitor groups using the area. Social impacts included crowding, unrealistic visitor expectations, inappropriate visitor behaviour and conflict between visitor groups. The impacts are discussed in relation to stakeholder and manager views, and recommendations are made as a result. The paper concludes that the Mason Bay recreation experience must be regarded in a wider context, and that, under growing pressure from tourist activities and increased numbers, the Department must be clear about the recreation experience they wish to provide.

Keywords:

Tourism, Conservation, Department of Conservation, DoC, Stewart Island, Tramping, Walks, Outdoors, National Parks, Parks, Rakiura National Park

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Evaluation

Southland

Outdoor Recreation

Tourists

Other setting, Outdoors

Coast and beach, Commercial, National Parks, Organised, Rivers and lakes, Travel and Transport

Barriers, Benefits, Capability, Financing / funding, Governance, Impacts - economic, Impacts - environmental, Impacts- social, Management, Performance, Planning, Tourism

1269

June 20, 2012