Understanding DOC Data
What DOC data is, how it is sourced, and how Tiki Tours uses it under CC BY 4.0.
Where the Data Comes From
Every trail, hut, and campsite in Tiki Tours is sourced from the Department of Conservation (DOC) — the New Zealand government agency responsible for managing public conservation land. DOC maintains the largest network of tracks, huts, and campsites in the country, and publishes the data through a public API.
The DOC API
DOC's public API provides structured data about:
- Tracks and trails — name, description, distance, estimated walking time, difficulty grade, region, and geographic coordinates
- Huts — name, bunk count, facilities (water, heating, toilet type), booking requirements, location
- Campsites — name, site count, facilities, fee tier, location
- Alerts and closures — current track status, closures, and caution notices
Tiki Tours syncs with this API regularly to ensure the information you see is current. We request data in WGS84 coordinates (standard GPS projection) and store it locally so it loads instantly and works offline.
Creative Commons BY 4.0
DOC publishes its trail data under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. This means anyone can use, share, and adapt the data — as long as they give proper credit.
In Tiki Tours, attribution appears:
- On every trail, hut, and campsite detail page
- In the app footer
- On shared trip views
The attribution reads: "Trail data from DOC — used with permission under CC BY 4.0."
What We Add
Tiki Tours does not modify DOC's source data. What we add is:
- A map-first interface — plot the data on an interactive map with search, filter, and clustering
- Trip planning — link trails, huts, and campsites into itineraries
- Offline access — cache the data on-device so it works without signal
- Fitness overlays — connect Garmin/Strava data to the trails you walked
The canonical source for all DOC data remains doc.govt.nz. If you spot a discrepancy between Tiki Tours and the DOC website, the DOC website is authoritative — and we would appreciate a heads-up so we can investigate.
Data Freshness
We sync trail data on a regular schedule (typically nightly). DOC updates track conditions, closures, and alerts frequently — especially during storm season. For time-sensitive decisions (e.g. "is this track open today?"), always cross-check with DOC's website or your local DOC visitor centre.