Picks checked on Amazon on 6 October 2026, for the 2026/27 Great Walks season.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Great Walk Watcher earns from qualifying purchases. If you buy through a link on this page we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. No brand paid to be listed. Prices and stock change constantly on Amazon, so check the product page. Amazon.com ships many outdoor items to New Zealand, and delivery options show on each product page.
Quick answer: a tent opens up the Great Walks, because campsites often have space when huts are sold out. You can camp on every Great Walk except the Milford and Paparoa. Get a light, freestanding two-person tent with two doors and a full rain fly. The MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2 is the all-rounder, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 is roomier and lighter.
Huts are what everyone books on opening day. Campsites are booked separately, and on tracks like the Routeburn (Routeburn Flats and Lake Mackenzie), the Kepler (Brod Bay and Iris Burn) and the Abel Tasman, they often have space when the huts on the same night are full. Camping is also much cheaper than a hut bunk. If you missed opening day, see what to do when a Great Walk is sold out.
MSR's two-person tent is one of the most popular backpacking tents ever made. Freestanding, two doors, two vestibules and a full rain fly, at a weight two people can share.
Skip it if: you are walking solo and want the lightest option. Look at a one-person tent.
Check price on Amazon Affiliate link
An ultralight tent with steep walls, which gives more usable space inside than most tents of its weight. Big vestibules swallow wet gear.
Skip it if: you are hard on gear. Ultralight fabrics need some care.
Check price on Amazon Affiliate link
Huts have mattresses, campsites do not. Insulation from the ground matters as much as your sleeping bag. Our pick is in the sleeping bag and mat guide.
Most Great Walks sell out on opening day, and DOC keeps no waitlist. Cancelled hut nights go back on sale all season. See how cancellations work or set a free cancellation alert.
Set up a notification for your Great Walk dates and hear about cancellations as soon as they are spotted.
Get notified when spots become available on your chosen dates and tracks.
See current availability across the Great Walks and plan your trip.
Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.
Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.
Loading availability…