Why winter camping is a genius New Zealand travel hack

Monday, 29 June 2026

Your ideal camping experience probably looks something like barbecues, beach swims and soaking up the summer sunshine.

But cold weather can make for top-tier camping too, insists Jono Collins.

“I don’t want camping to be a seasonal activity,” he says. “I want it to be a 365 day activity.”

Collins and his wife, Chloe Wright, run NZ Fun Adventures, through which they help Kiwis gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to enjoy our great outdoors year-round. “Our drive is to get people out all year.”

In fact, winter is Collins’ favourite season to camp.

“If you just want to get away from people and you don’t want to be surrounded by a busy campground, winter is a great time to go.”

Campgrounds are not only quieter during the cooler months, they’re also more affordable, with the minimum nights frequently in place for peak-season bookings gone.

“They’re often right now doing 20% off their pricing, or they’ll (do) stay two nights, get one free,” Collins adds. Not only that, but winter weather can be some of Aotearoa’s best.

“We have the calmest, stillest days, the clearest nights for looking at stars,” says Collins. “You just need to get over the hurdle that it might be cold.”

The biggest mistake campers tend to make, Collins says, is not being adequately prepared for the conditions they’re camping in.

With that in mind, here are the key things to consider when planning a cold weather camp.

Accommodation

You don’t need a caravan to camp in winter, Collins insists. He doesn’t have one. But if you’re going to use a tent, you’ll need to know it’s waterproof, ideally designed for three to four seasons with a good fly.

If you have an older tent or one that hasn’t seen rain in a while, set it up and spray with a gentle hose to ensure there are no leaks that need patching or repairing. There are several water repellent sprays on the market to help keep the inside of the tent extra dry, too.

As important is to make sure you know how to set your tent up correctly: how to use all the poles, peg down the guy ropes. You don’t want it to blow away.

Keeping warm during the day

Get active. Explore your local surroundings by going for walks, play physical games and keep your body moving and blood flowing.

For those times when you do just want to sit and relax, a big jacket is a must, says Collins. Pack layers: thermals, fleeces, wool socks. Make sure you’ve got a warm hat and gloves. Where grounds allow you to build a campfire, do. Gas heaters are good, but should only be used outside the tent.

Keeping warm at night

If buying a new sleeping bag, Collins suggests you look for down over synthetic, with a loft count of at least 800 - essentially a measure of how many feathers are used and how “fluffy” or well-insulated the bag is.

But there’s no need to spend money, Collins insists. Just as you can layer your clothing, you can layer your sleep system by putting one low-grade or cooler sleeping bag inside another.

“You’ve just doubled your insulation.”

Other easy fixes you probably have at home are warm blankets and hot water bottles. Collins also recommends a good sleeping mat that will keep you off the cold ground.

If you have a powered site you could plug in a space heater (as well as an electric blanket), but if not there is such a thing as a portable wood burner designed to be used inside a tent.

This is referred to as “hot tenting”, Collins explains. “It’s a growing concept in New Zealand, huge in other countries like Alaska, Canada, those sort of places where it’s snowing outside, it’s really normal for them to camp that way during winter.

“It provides a huge amount of heat, and you can use it for cooking as well.”

Be weather smart

Before you head out for a winter camp, make sure you know what weather is coming.

“Look for any potential dangers,” is the advice Collins gives to people he’s helping. “Look literally at where they’re putting up their tent or parking their caravan.”

With the right gear, there’s nothing wrong with camping in the rain, but you shouldn’t do that next to a river. If high winds are expected, avoid pitching your tent too close to a large tree.

Pack up properly

Once you’ve enjoyed your wintery camp, make sure you properly dry out all your gear before putting it away. A tent stored damp in July could be mouldy by the time you pull it out again in January.

“I know it’s a pain to dry stuff out,” says Collins, “but way better doing that than having to spend another thousand bucks on a new tent.”

None of this is too difficult, and much of it is good practice for camping at any time of year. But if you like quieter campgrounds, are keen to save money and have a sense of adventure then, says Collins, “winter is a great opportunity”.

Fact file

Bookings for campsites around New Zealand can be made through the Department of Conservation. Non-bookable campsites operate on a first-come first-served basis. Basic campsites are free, standard and serviced campsites range from $10 to $28 per night per adult. See: doc.govt.nz