National has released a plan to charge tourists twice as much as kiwis, on the country's five most popular Great Walks.

Tourists will also pay an extra 50 percent on the other Great Walks, and for backcountry hut passes.

Bill English says the charges will apply to the tracks at Milford, Routeburn, Kepler and Abel Tasman, and the Tongariro Crossing.

"It's fair that those who are willing to travel around the world to have those experiences help us with the real cost of maintaining those walks."

The changes will generate more than $4 million a year, which will go into Department of Conservation programmes.