Where can I buy hiking and camping gear??

As such an outdoorsy-inclined nation and one which attracts a wealth of visitors intent on enjoying the great outdoors too there is possibly no better country in the world in which to buy hiking and camping gear.

There are plenty of places to buy new but high quality second-hand gear is in great supply too, in part due to so many travellers ditching the gear they had before heading for home. It can often be better to go down this route because you can get something far higher quality for far less money.

Where to find second-hand hiking and camping gear  

• Op-shops – normally run by charities, these second-hand shops are nothing short of goldmines for hiking and camping gear, especially high quality clothing.
• Trade Me – New Zealand's very own eBay equivalent, Trade Me is both auction site and classified advertising space which has a camping and outdoor section under the 'Sports' category. This typically has tens of thousands of items for sale.
• Other classifieds – There are several online options or check out the 'for sale' sections in newspapers.
• Army surplus – Designed for the military, much of the gear and clothing you'll find here is durable and good quality.
• Hostel notice-boards – Travellers will often advertise unwanted equipment here.
• Backpacker Car World, Auckland – Although not tending to have a huge selection, one room of this second-hand campervan and car selling establishment has been set aside for selling second-hand camping gear.

Where to find new hiking and camping gear

If you are looking for something in particular then there are plenty of options for buying new camping and hiking gear.

• Chain stores – New Zealand has several outdoor-themed chain stores which can be found in all major cities or in smaller towns which are known for being outdoor activity hubs such as the starts of Great Walks, Queenstown and Fiordland. The best known is probably Katmandu but there is also Bivouac, Macpac and several more.
• The Warehouse – This major warehouse type chain usually have a camping department and some great bargains for basic camping gear that you don't need to be high performance or last for years such as basic sleeping bags and camper-van equipment.