The New Zealand Walking Access Commission’s Walking Access Mapping System will be enhanced on Thursday with the addition of a new Tracks and Access Points layer to allow people to better plan travel into the outdoors.

The new layer displays information such as Department of Conservation tracks and easements, Te Araroa trail walkways, and Fish and Game river access points in some parts of New Zealand. It will continue to improve as more organisations provide access point information.

Walking Access Commission CEO Mark Neeson said the new layer would be particularly useful for recreational users such as walkers, mountain bikers, anglers and hunters.

“The Tracks and Access Points layer will be a great addition to the Walking Access Mapping System. It will allow Kiwis and overseas visitors to find information about physical tracks and other access points to New Zealand’s rivers, mountains, lakes, forests, beaches.”

The increased functionality will coincide with the system’s opening to the wider public. Thursday signifies the end of the system’s testing phase, and the Commission’s move towards increasing public awareness of it. Further development will continue in coming months and years.

“I encourage everyone to take a look at the new layer on www.wams.org after Thursday,” Mr Neeson said. “As always, feedback is very welcome.”