Outside in Aotearoa
What's happening outdoors around New Zealand. Track updates, mountain news and good reasons to get out there.
Compare inflatable pillows, filled pillows and clothing bags, and test the height and comfort with your actual sleeping mat.
Read more... : Camping pillows: inflatable, foam or a spare-clothes bag?Build a complete hammock-camping setup with suitable straps, rain cover and under-insulation, then test it before heading away.
Read more... : Hammock camping: the parts you need beyond the hammockUnderstand DOC hut passes, tickets and bookings, including the October 2026 booking expansion and online backcountry tickets from November.
Read more... : DOC hut passes, tickets and bookings: which do you need?Know what to bring for your first DOC hut night, how shared facilities work and the small habits that make the evening easier for everyone.
Read more... : Your first DOC hut night: what to bring and how it worksPlan a Great Walk from route choice to hut bookings and transport, with a simple booking sequence and room for weather changes.
Read more... : Planning a Great Walk: bookings, transport and backup datesCompare DOC campsite facility levels, water supplies and access so you can choose a suitable site and bring the equipment you actually need.
Read more... : Choosing a DOC campsite: facilities that change what you packCheck where freedom camping is permitted in NZ, what the green self-containment warrant means and which local restrictions to read before stopping.
Read more... : Freedom camping in NZ: how to check where you can stayPlan an easy first family camping trip: choose a suitable campsite, practise the setup and keep arrival, meals and bedtime straightforward.
Read more... : Your first family camping trip: keep the setup simplePack for your first NZ campsite stay with a clear checklist for sleeping, cooking, clothing and the facilities to confirm before leaving.
Read more... : A camping checklist for your first NZ campsite stayDOC has confirmed toxoplasmosis killed a pregnant Hector’s dolphin found at Oreti Beach, highlighting a threat carried from land into coastal waters.
Read more... : Oreti Beach dolphin death highlights a land-to-sea wildlife threatHūnua Traverse’s northern section has weekday forestry closures from 14 September. Check weekend access and southern-section options before riding.
Read more... : Hūnua Traverse: northern section now closed on weekdaysMost of Tasman’s Great Taste Trail is open, but Wakefield-area closures and Quail Valley Road detours affect spring ride planning.
Read more... : Great Taste Trail: Wakefield-area closures to plan around this spring
