The Department of Conservation says it will save more than $75,000 a year by using the sun to heat some of its campground showers.
Serviced campgrounds currently use gas, electricity, or coal or wood-fired wetbacks to heat showers, but DoC says it plans to install solar panels at a cost of $160,000.
Sustainability manager Katherine Maxwell says the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is contributing half of that amount.
She says the solar heating should almost repay DoC's contribution within 12 months.
"When you're actually off the grid and paying a very high cost for electricity, the payback is extremely quick and the savings are very significant, even in the short term."
Ms Maxwell says more than 1,200 people a night stay at DoC's serviced camps during summer.
