Pack like an outdoor pro with this gear list

GEAR REVIEW: A minimalist rain jacket that lives up to its name.

December 18, 2025

Hailing from a very flat part of Australia, Emma Shuttle moved to New Zealand in 2023. She has worked in the outdoor industry for the past eight years, first as a hiking guide and outdoor education instructor, then in mountain biking tourism, triathlon and trail running. Now she’s at MD Outdoors in Nelson.

“I have fallen in love with the alpine tops, rolling tussock and cornflake forests of New Zealand,” she says.

Her work as a guide taught her how to keep pack weight to a minimum, a skill she shares with trampers through packing workshops at MD Outdoors.

Missed yesterday’s feature? 2026 Walk1200km details, the six best trips in Arthur’s Pass NP, new tramping scholarship announced and more in our latest issue!

Quiz

What do the green circles and lines indicate on this map?

  • A. Algae

  • B. Sunken tree debris

  • C. Mangroves

  • D. Seaweed

  • E. Kahikatea stands

Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…

This minimalist rain jacket lives up to its name

This affordable, lightweight jacket is constructed with recycled Pertex Shield Revolve 2.5-layer fabric with a 20,000mm waterproof rating. For its price and weight, it has a sufficient feature set, including a fixed hood with peripheral cord adjustment, pack and harness-friendly water-resistant pockets, pit zips and a drawcord at the waist.

Current Issue - Jan/Feb 2025

The weekend weather at a park near you…

It’s looking mixed this weekend, possibly even snow at the higher elevations. Be sure to pack your layers!

LocationTodayFridaySaturdaySunday
Angelus Hut
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h. High chance of low visibility.
2°/9°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Fresh wind with gusts up to 90 km/h. High chance of low visibility. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -1°C at 11pm.
3°/7°
Some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
-1°/4°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
-1°/7°
Aoraki/Mt Cook VC
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
10°/19°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h. High chance of low visibility.
6°/14°
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
4°/11°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
5°/15°
Arthurs Pass
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
8°/16°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Fresh wind with gusts up to 100 km/h.
7°/13°
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
5°/11°
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
5°/13°
Ben Lomond Summit
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h.
4°/12°
Persistent rain, heavy at times and some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -5°C at 10pm.
-1°/5°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -7°C at 6am.
-4°/5°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
-3°/8°
Brewster Hut
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
5°/11°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -0°C at 10pm.
1°/8°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
-0°/8°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
-2°/9°
Cape Reinga
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
14°/20°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
15°/20°
Partly cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
17°/20°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
16°/19°
Karangahake Gorge
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
8°/20°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
13°/20°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h.
14°/20°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
13°/19°
Kaweka J Summit
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h.
-1°/10°
Cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 100 km/h.
3°/12°
Chance of light showers. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
2°/11°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
1°/12°
McKinnon Pass
Persistent rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 4°C at 11pm.
6°/12°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 0°C at 11pm.
2°/8°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
-0°/8°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
-1°/10°
Mt Heale Hut
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
14°/18°
Cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 65 km/h.
14°/18°
Chance of light showers. Strong wind with gusts up to 80 km/h.
16°/18°
Partly cloudy. Strong wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
15°/17°
Mt Pirongia
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
5°/14°
Light rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
9°/13°
Light rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
9°/12°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 75 km/h.
8°/13°
Mueller Hut
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 75 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -1°C at 11pm.
4°/8°
Persistent rain, heavy at times and some chance of snow. Fresh wind with gusts up to 80 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -4°C at 8pm.
-1°/6°
Some chance of snow. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
-1°/2°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
1°/5°
Pinnacles Hut
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
8°/17°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
11°/17°
Chance of light showers. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
11°/17°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
10°/17°
Pouakai Hut
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility.
5°/10°
Persistent rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h. High chance of low visibility.
8°/10°
Light rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 80 km/h. Some chance of low visibility.
5°/9°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
4°/9°
Powell Hut
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
2°/10°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Strong wind with gusts up to 140 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 3°C at 7am.
8°/9°
Persistent rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 105 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 1°C at 10pm.
4°/9°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
2°/10°
Rotoiti/Nelson Lk VC
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
7°/18°
Persistent rain. Light wind with gusts up to 65 km/h.
9°/14°
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
6°/12°
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
5°/16°
Roys Peak
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
4°/14°
Light rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 80 km/h. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -3°C at 11pm.
0°/8°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
-2°/7°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
-3°/10°
Tongariro VC
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 40 km/h. Some chance of low visibility.
3°/12°
Persistent rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility.
7°/11°
Persistent rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
5°/10°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
4°/12°
Waitawheta Hut
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
8°/18°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 65 km/h.
12°/18°
Light rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 75 km/h.
12°/17°
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h.
11°/17°
Woolshed Creek Hut
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h.
5°/17°
Rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 2°C at 11pm.
3°/17°
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 1°C at 4am.
2°/8°
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
3°/11°

Report created on 18 December, 2025 at 7.14am. For a full forecast of the park of your choice, visit NIWA.

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Featured Book

Feathers of Aotearoa

In this illustrated nature journal, Niels Meyer-Westfeld explores the feathers of Aotearoa’s native birds.

Subscribers get a 10% discount.

Quiz

Answer C - Mangroves

The map shows mangrove swamps. The green lines indicate the approximate location of the main channel.

Quiz provided by Heather Grady from Outdoor Training New Zealand.

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