Overseas adventures remain a distant dream for New Zealand travellers - who are instead opting to embrace trips in their own backyard.
DOC is expecting a bumper summer on the Great Walks, with domestic bookings up 55 percent.
It's not the only local exploring people are doing - with a new survey revealing 75 percent of Kiwis are planning a domestic holiday over the next year.
But some tourism providers say visitors are coming in fits and starts - and the situation remains dire for many businesses.
Katie Todd reports.
