Buying a tent is one of the most exciting purchases you can make. This is your home away from home, and the tent you choose will shape your adventures for years to come. But how do you know which is the right tent for you? The first question to ask yourself when you’re tent hunting, is “where am I going?”. Here are our top tents for some iconic trips in New Zealand and Australia.
DUOLIGHT | Built for multi-day adventures in warm climates
For a multi-day mission in the South Island’s Abel Tasman, you’ll want the roof over your head to be lightweight, rugged, and roomy enough for you and your gear – seems like a lot to ask, right? It’s not! The Duolight is engineered to handle New Zealand’s unpredictable weather, but is light enough to make carrying it on your back a breeze. Pitch up, and get exploring!
The Three Passes Route takes in the Harman Pass, Whitehorn Pass and Browning Pass/Noti Raureka – diverse conditions, stunning scenery, harsh terrain. It’s an iconic Kiwi adventure, and an iconic Kiwi adventure calls for an iconic Kiwi tent. The Olympus is our classic all-rounder, and while the Three Passes Route is well equipped with DOC Huts, there’s some amazing spots to camp if you’re willing to leave the trail, so a BYO accommodation option is a good idea.
If you’re not willing to fork out for hut fees at Aoraki/Mt. Cook’s infamous alpine lodging, Plateau Hut, the Aspiring is the ideal alternative. The perfect base camp tent should be spacious, and offer respite from harsh alpine conditions. The Aspiring is our bomb proof biv, engineered to withstand the highly changeable weather conditions of the alpine environment. But be mindful of where you pitch it – too close to the hut and you might find yourself getting blown away by one of the many helicopters that come and go from the plateau.
If you like to measure your camping trips in weeks rather than days, the Aquila is the tent for you. Spacious enough for the whole family, the Aquila can sleep up to 6 adults comfortably and looks like a natural extension of the coastline on the Mornington Foreshore in Victoria. The Aquila features collapsible awnings to create shade from the hot Aussie sunshine – throw the shortboards in the shade, reach into the esky and soak up the sea, sun and salt of Victoria’s best coastal escape.
Built for family adventures where you need some extra space.
OLYMPUS | Built to go wherever you need it to