Winter camping clothing NZ: what to wear guide

Winter camping in New Zealand comes with a heap of advantages, including smaller crowds, fewer bugs and a stunning landscape of snow-capped mountains and frozen fjords. But given that the temperature can range anywhere from sub-zero to about 15℃ between June and August, it is important to know what to wear camping in winter.

Wearing the right clothing and layering up is crucial if you want your winter camping trip to be comfortable. It’s also vital if you want to avoid cold-related illnesses such as hypothermia, frostbite and trench foot.

In this guide, we’ll explain what to wear camping in winter in New Zealand so that you are ready for all conditions. We’ll outline the three layers that you should wear (inner, middle and outer) and why each is important. We’ll also explain what you should wear when sleeping, the accessories you should take, the most appropriate footwear and even what not to wear when winter camping.

But remember, if you want to stay extra warm and cosy whilst on a winter camping trip in New Zealand (such as this awesome North Island winter road trip itinerary), it’s best to hire a campervan through Camplify! No more setting up tents in the rain or tossing and turning on a thin air mattress!

What to wear camping in winter

Inner clothing layer for winter camping

When winter camping, your inner clothing layer should fit snugly against your skin. Its purpose is to wick moisture (i.e. sweat) away from your skin and keep your body dry. The moisture should transfer to the middle layer of clothing where it will evaporate.

It is best to wear an inner layer that has long sleeves that cover your extremities, such as long johns (i.e. thermal underwear), ski thermals or other wicking activewear that fits snuggly to the body. Underlayers designed for winter use usually have a thermal rating, so choose a rating that is appropriate for the temperature in which you’ll be camping (i.e. sub-zero or above-zero).

The best materials for the inner clothing layer are wool, fleece, polyester or other thin non-plant based fabrics that are effective at wicking away moisture. New Zealand is blessed with some of the best merino wool in the world, making it a great option for Kiwi’s to wear camping in winter.

Middle clothing layer for winter camping

The middle clothing layer should be quite thick and fit comfortably over your inner layer. It acts as insulation and helps you retain body heat.

On the upper body, some great middle layer options include heavyweight fleece jackets, puffy down jackets or other synthetic insulated jackets. On the lower body, many winter campers choose to wear fleece pants or heavyweight thermal pants over the top of the inner layer.

The best materials for the middle clothing layers are fleece (or fleece-lined), wool, down or synthetic insulation. Generally, the thicker the material, the warmer it will be in winter camping conditions.

Outdoor clothing for winter camping

The outer clothing layer (i.e. the shell) is the bulkiest and should fit comfortably over the first two layers. It should be waterproof and repel rain, wind and snow to keep your body warm and dry when camping in winter.

If you are camping in very cold winter conditions, it’s best to wear a heavy insulated waterproof jacket, down coat or snow jacket on the upper body. Alternatively, if you are only camping in mild winter conditions, you may only want to wear a windbreaker on your outer layer. On the lower body, most winter campers choose to wear snow pants.

Make sure that your outer layer of winter camping clothing is “waterproof” and not merely “water-resistant”. Water-resistant clothing will allow water to penetrate your inner layers and make you cold. Also, ensure that the outer layer is breathable so that moisture evaporating from the inner layers can escape.

Sleepwear for winter camping

When you go to bed on a winter camping trip, you want to wear clothes that are warm and comfortable. Most winter campers in New Zealand choose to wear long thermal underwear. If you are still cold, you can wear lightweight pyjamas or a tracksuit over the thermals. Plus, you can throw on a beanie and mittens to keep you extra snug in freezing conditions.

Accessories for winter camping

On top of the three layers, you may want to wear a few extra accessories to protect your extremities. Popular winter camping clothing accessories include gloves, beanies, goggles/sunglasses and scarves/balaclavas.

Consider taking three different pairs of gloves for various winter camping conditions: fleece, waterproof and fingerless. Fleece gloves will keep your hands and fingers warm. Waterproof gloves will insulate your hands and keep them dry on rainy or windy days. And fingerless gloves are useful when performing tasks around camp such as cooking or using your phone.

Most winter campers choose to wear a woollen beanie to keep their head warm. This is a simple and effective option. But just make sure it is large enough to cover your ears. If you find that your ears get particularly cold, you may want to invest in a winter hat with earflaps.

Protect your eyes from the sun and the wind by wearing polarised sunglasses when winter camping. If you will be in snowy conditions, you may want to consider bringing polarised ski goggles.

Finally, keep your face and neck warm and protected by wearing either a scarf, neck warmer or balaclava. Most people find a face mask or balaclava more practical, particularly when active (e.g. hiking).

Footwear for winter camping

Just like the rest of your body, you should wear layers on your feet when winter camping. Not only will layers keep your feet warm and dry but they are also more comfortable when walking long distances.

Start with a pair of moisture-wicking sports socks that will provide comfort and allow your feet to breathe. Over the top of the sports socks, wear a thicker pair of thermal wool hiking socks that will keep your feet warm and dry. You won’t want to wear the woollen socks directly against your skin as they can get itchy and won’t be as effective at wicking away moisture. Also, you won’t want to wear woollen socks that are too thick as this will make your shoes too tight and your feet will get cold due to the loose fit.

If you find that your feet still get cold despite two layers of socks, you can always add foot warmers to your shoes. Further, consider wearing gaiters over the top of your shoes to keep out snow and water when winter camping.

A standard pair of hiking boots will suffice when winter camping in most places around New Zealand. However, if you plan on camping in the alpine regions where snowfall is heavier, you may want to wear a pair of snow boots or mountaineering boots that are waterproof and insulated.

What not to wear camping in winter

Just as important as knowing what to wear camping in winter is what to avoid! Try not to wear cotton when winter camping. Cotton allows your skin to breathe and your body heat to escape, making it harder to stay warm. Plus, cotton clothing absorbs water (such as sweat and moisture in the air), which will chill your body.

Instead, opt for synthetic materials (e.g. fleece or polyester) or animal-based materials (e.g. wool) that are breathable and wick away moisture.

Keep extra cosy in a campervan

Want to experience winter camping without sleeping in a cold and muddy tent? Don’t want to be constantly wrapped up in three layers of clothing? Hire an insulated campervan instead!

Setting up a tent in the wind and rain during New Zealand’s chilly winter months is the last thing you want to do. In a campervan, setting up camp can be as easy as pulling up at your campsite and hopping into a warm cosy bed!

Plus, many of the campervans for hire on Camplify are fitted with a kitchen and some even have a shower and toilet. So you can say goodbye to 6 a.m. journeys through the mud to the frigid amenities block!

Sick of sleeping on a thin blow-up air bed? In a campervan, you have a proper bed with blankets and pillows for a comfortable night's sleep. And you might even be able to turn on the heating system to warm yourself up and dry your wet clothing.

Finally, you need a self-contained vehicle to stay overnight at many of the best freedom camping sites around New Zealand. If you camp in a tent, you won’t get to enjoy unforgettable freedom camping experiences like sleeping beside Lake Pukaki under a starry night sky or waking up to sunrise on a beach in the Coromandel!

Hire a van for your winter road trip in New Zealand

Now that you know what to wear camping in winter around New Zealand, it’s time to arrange your accommodation (and wheels)!

Camplify helps campers to quickly search through privately-owned rentals and find the ideal van for their adventure (like Kowhai pictured above). Simply enter your pickup location, adjust the optional filters and within seconds, you will find the perfect motorhome, caravan or campervan for your winter camping trip!

Click here to arrange van hire on the South Island. Alternatively, click here to organise van hire on the North Island.

Why Camplify?

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• Comprehensive hire insurance

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By hiring with Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across New Zealand in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.

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