One of the most popular articles on this site is our piece on where to hire hiking gear in Australia. The question is asked regularly in the group so it’s a great resource to share and increasingly people are finding it when they search google.
Now is time to share a resource for hikers (or should that be trampers?) in, or who are travelling to, New Zealand.
Contents
A list of places in New Zealand where you can rent or hire hiking equipment.
⛰️ Auckland
The country’s biggest city, Auckland is home base for many hikers and is therefore the logical place to kit up with the right gear for that big (or short) tramp. There are a number of places to hire hiking gear in Auckland if you’re ultra organised and wish to have everything packed before heading to the track. According to their website, the Auckland University Tramping Club does hire to non-members for a fee.
Adventure Capital – Auckland
Auckland University Tramping Club – Auckland
Living Simply – Auckland
⛰️ Bay of Plenty
We could only find one place that hires out gear in the Bay of Plenty region and that’s Outdoorsman Headquarters in Rotorua and they only appear to hire PLBs. If you know of any other places that hire hiking equipment in the Bay of Plenty region please comment below.
Outdoorsman Headquarters – Rotorua
⛰️Manawatu-Wanganui
The Manawatu-Wanganui region is home to the famous Tongariro National Park and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a must-do tramp for the North Island hiker. The Alpine Centre located in National Park Village, the starting point for many trampers, hires out a range of equipment including packs, jackets, sleeping bags, and hiking poles.
The Palmerston North Tramping & Mountaineering Club – Palmerston North
The Alpine Centre – National Park Village
Mount Tongariro and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. One of the most popular hikes in NZ. The Alpine Centre in National Park Village, the town closest to the park, hires equipment for those doing this tramp. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons.
⛰️Wellington
We could only find one store to get rent hiking gear in Wellington, which is Adventure Capital. If you know any other places please comment below.
Adventure Capital – Wellington
⛰️Tasman
A popular Great Walk (or paddle, for that matter!), the Abel Tasman, is well catered for with hiking gear equipment for hire with two of the local kayak hire companies hiring out a range of camping equipment—tents, stoves, sleeping bags and mats. If you forget anything from your trip up from Nelson these operators may be able to help.
Abel Tasman Kayaks – Marahau
Kaiteriteri Kayak – Kaiteriteri Beach (only for customers who book an overnight kayaking trip)
⛰️Nelson
Nelson, the regions service town, has a number of outdoor gear stores but seems limited for gear hire options. If you know any other places please comment below.
Pack Gear Go – Nelson
⛰️Canterbury
Most travellers heading to the South Island for a hiking adventure fly in through Christchurch. There are a couple of places you can hire hiking gear in Christchurch and dozens of stores where you can buy equipment.
Adventure Capital – Christchurch
Christchurch Camp ‘n’ Tramp – Christchurch
Alpine Guides – Mt Cook Village
⛰️West Coast
Habitat Sports – Westport
⛰️Otago
The Otago region on the South Island. It’s an absolute hiking mecca. Home to Queenstown and Wanaka, it’s also the home to Mt Aspiring National Park and stunning multi-day hikes like the Routeburn, Rees Dart, and Young-Wilkin. As you would expect for such an outdoors-mad region there are plenty of hiking gear stores and a few that will hire out equipment too. Whether you’re based in Queenstown or Wanaka, or all the way over on the east coast in Dunedin, there is an option.
Info & Track – Queenstown
Mt Outdoors – Wanaka
Outside Sports – Queenstown
Outside Sports – Wanaka
University of Otago Outdoor Rental – Dunedin
The Info & Track store on Shotover Street, Queenstown. Conveniently located to rent hiking equipment. They also provide shuttle services out to the Rees Dart, Routeburn, and Caples Greenstone.
⛰️Southland
Fiordland National Park. The jewel in the NZ hiking crown. Home to the Great Walks the Milford Track and Kepler Track, and a plethora of other short, day, and multi-day hikes. Plenty of places to buy or hire hiking gear as well as rent a PLB.
If you’re looking to hire tramping gear for the Milford Track or Kepler Track this is the place to do it.
Bev’s Tramping Gear Hire – Te Anau
Easy Hike – Te Anau
Outdoor Adventure Shop – Stewart Island
Outside Sports – Te Anau
Ruggedy Range – Stewart Island
⛰️New Zealand-Wide/Online
Have we missed your town or destination above? Get in touch with the following businesses as they may have a store near you that can help.
Bivouac – All Stores
Southern Wilderness – Nelson/Tasman Region
When hiking in the New Zealand backcountry it’s crucial to carry a personal locator beacon (PLB), even if you’re hiking in a group. (See our posts on the reasons why you should carry a PLB) See below for lists of places that hire personal locator beacons in NZ:
NZ Mountain Safety Council
Maritime New Zealand
Rescue Beacon Hire
Image credit for cover image: Wikimedia Commons
2 thoughts on “A Guide To Hiking Gear Hire in New Zealand”
Hi, Shona from The Alpine Centre in National Park Village here. Love that you give us a plug for gear rental. Thank You! Just noticed your link is going to a 404-error on our website, might be I have maid some fundamental changes that probably shouldnt have during the Lock Down. Anyway here is the updated link page: https://thealpinecentre.co.nz/hiking-gear-hire-tongariro/
Also be great if you can add Hiking Boots Hire as this actually is main item customers need.
Much appreciated in advance.
All updated. 🙂