Best Camping Gifts in NZ

We all have that one friend who's always planning their next trip, or already halfway packed for it. The good news is they're easy to buy for, because the best camping gifts are the practical ones they'll actually use. And with Christmas landing in the middle of a Kiwi summer, whatever you give gets packed for the very next long weekend.

The trick is to think about the kind of camper they are. A family tackling the Christmas-holiday campground wants different gear to a couple chasing quiet DOC sites. Below are the gifts I'd actually buy, from a showstopper pizza oven down to the little upgrades that make a trip run smoother.

If you're not a camper yourself, the gear wall can feel a bit overwhelming. Keep it simple: think about what would make their trip more comfortable, and whether they're missing a big-ticket item or just need the small stuff topped up.

When in doubt, comfort wins. A better night's sleep or a cold drink at the end of a hot day is the kind of thing people remember long after the trip.

The Ooni Koda 2 is my favourite camping gift, hands down. Pizza night at the campsite beats just about anything else, and it's the sort of thing nobody buys for themselves.

I'd choose it because it turns an ordinary evening into the best night of the trip - everyone gathers round, everyone gets involved, and it fires up fast on gas so you're eating in minutes. It's a gift the whole campsite ends up enjoying. Browse the full Ooni range for the accessories to go with it.

My favouriteOoni Koda 2 Gas Pizza OvenRRP $799Shop the Ooni Koda 2 Gas Pizza Oven

If you're going big, a family air tent is as good as camping gifts get. My pick is the Zempire Evo TL V2 air tent.

I'd choose it for a family because there are no poles to wrestle with - it inflates in minutes, so you spend less time setting up and more time actually relaxing. If you want to compare the options, our Best Air Tents guide walks through the Zempire and Kiwi Camping ranges.

For the familyZempire Evo TL V2 Air TentRRP $2,249Shop the Zempire Evo TL V2 Air Tent

Nothing makes a hot-weather camp better than cold food and cold drinks that stay that way. My pick is the YETI Tundra 45 cooler.

I'd choose it because it keeps everything cold for the whole weekend, not just the first afternoon - it's the sort of over-built gear that outlasts the car you carry it in. Pair it with a good bottle and they're sorted. Shop the full YETI range.

Cold all weekendYETI Tundra 45 Hard CoolerRRP $525Shop the YETI Tundra 45 Hard Cooler

For something a little smaller that still gets used every day, a good insulated bottle is hard to beat. My pick is the YETI Rambler 26 oz bottle.

I'd choose it because it keeps drinks cold (or hot) for hours and goes everywhere - camp, work, the car, the sideline. It's the kind of practical gift people are quietly thrilled to get.

Used every dayYETI Rambler 26 oz BottleRRP $70Shop the YETI Rambler 26 oz Bottle

A good night's sleep is what makes or breaks a camping trip. My pick is the Zempire Monstamat.

I'd choose it because a comfortable, well-insulated mat is the difference between waking up ready to go and waking up wrecked. If you want help choosing, our guide on how to choose the right sleeping mat breaks it down.

Sleep sortedZempire Monstamat Twin Sleeping Mat BundleRRP $399Shop the Zempire Monstamat Twin Sleeping Mat Bundle

You always need a hands-free light at camp, and you can always lose one - which makes a good head torch a gift that gets used constantly. My pick is the Ledlenser MH3 head torch.

I'd choose it because it's bright, comfortable and reliable, the kind of thing they'll clip to their cap every evening and wonder how they managed without. Browse camp lighting for more options.

Hands-free at campLedlenser MH3 HeadlampRRP $99.99Shop the Ledlenser MH3 Headlamp

You don't need to spend big to land a great camping gift. Here's a quick way to shop by what you want to spend.

Want more small-and-smart ideas? See our Best Camping Gifts on a Budget guide for picks under $25, $50 and $100, and our stocking stuffers roundup. Or just browse the full camping range.

To have your gifts arrive in time, place your order by 12pm on these dates (standard shipping):

Allow an extra 2 working days for rural delivery. These are indicative cut-offs and may change - we'll confirm the final dates with our shipping partners closer to Christmas.