Case Study of Infrastructure and Accessibility at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

Abstract

This research project focuses on the experience of visitors at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park (AMCNP). Recent changes at the national park, such as the implementation of paid parking and the reconstruction of one of the major swing bridges at the park, in addition to increases in visitation, instigate the need to analyze how visitors view these changes and the overall park facilities. In addition, many of New Zealand’s national parks are understudied in comparison to their counterparts in Europe and North America, with most research coming from the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). There is a lack of literature regarding New Zealand’s national parks infrastructure and accessibility. Understanding these national parks’ strengths and weaknesses allows park management to make the necessary changes to better protect the parks and improve visitors’ experiences.

To address this gap in research, this project employed qualitative methods to explore and understand visitors' experiences at AMCNP. The data were gathered through a combination of collecting online reviews and observation. Thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the online reviews, while the observation data verified the claims gathered.

The findings suggest that with the continual increases in visitation, partially caused by photography and social media, management of the park needs to proactively expand already insufficient infrastructure. This expansion should be reflected in more accessible trails and either a larger parking lot or improved bus service to the park. These changes are ideal for decreasing crowds and increasing visitors’ safety and satisfaction.