Fleece jackets are a versatile piece of kit, especially durning this time of year. They’re just as at home during any outdoor activity as they are at the après-ski.

Our 2026 guide to fleeces takes a look nine of our favourite picks for ‘26 and the key factors to consider when choosing the best fleece for you.

See the full gear guide

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Members of the band Crash Bandihoot played an outlandish gig at Powell Hut where they hauled a 13kg sousaphone, a bass drum and full horn section to raise money for Forest & Bird.

Quiz

Which bay is located on the coastal area next to the Abel Tasman National Park?

  • A - Pegasus Bay

  • B - Golden Bay

  • C - Caroline Bay

Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…

Featured Book

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Gear review: Inselberg Centile Hoody Insulated Jacket

Looking for an insulated jacket with excellent warmth-for-weight ratio and packs down to the size of a 1l bottle?

Gear editor Mark Watson thinks this jacket maintains premium backcountry performance throughout the seasons, while still pulling double-duty as casual wear.

Read the full review

Current Issue - September 2026 Great Walks special issue

Get a free gear Checklist printed on 250gsm card with the September Great Walks special issue. Also inside, Which Great Walk is right for you, tips and advice from those who have done them, plus the birds and plants to spot on your Great Walk adventure.

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The weekend weather at a park near you…

LocationTodayFridaySaturdaySunday
Angelus Hut
Some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 40 km/h. High chance of low visibility. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -6°C at 4am.
-2°/2°
Some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -5°C at 8pm.
-1°/2°
Some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h. Some chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -12°C at 7pm.
-7°/-1°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
-8°/-2°
Aoraki/Mt Cook VC
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Light wind with gusts up to 45 km/h. High chance of low visibility. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 3°C at 1am.
5°/8°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h. High chance of low visibility. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 0°C at 10pm.
1°/8°
Some chance of snow. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h. High chance of low visibility. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -7°C at 10pm.
-6°/2°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 25 km/h.
-5°/3°
Arthurs Pass
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Fresh wind with gusts up to 90 km/h. Some chance of low visibility. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 1°C at 8pm.
5°/8°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -2°C at 11pm.
3°/8°
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h. High chance of low visibility. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -8°C at 11pm.
-5°/3°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 20 km/h.
-5°/3°
Ben Lomond Summit
Some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -6°C at 5am.
-2°/2°
Some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h. High chance of low visibility. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -8°C at 7pm.
-5°/-1°
Some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -13°C at 9pm.
-9°/-4°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 15 km/h.
-10°/-4°
Brewster Hut
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -2°C at 10am.
1°/3°
Persistent rain and medium chance of snow. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -6°C at 8pm.
-4°/2°
Some chance of snow. Light wind with gusts up to 25 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -16°C at 11pm.
-11°/-3°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 20 km/h.
-13°/-2°
Cape Reinga
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
12°/15°
Light rain. Strong wind with gusts up to 90 km/h.
13°/15°
Cloudy. Gale with gusts up to 110 km/h.
10°/13°
Chance of light showers. Strong wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
12°/13°
Karangahake Gorge
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 20 km/h.
5°/13°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
6°/14°
Chance of light showers. Fresh wind with gusts up to 75 km/h.
8°/12°
Chance of light showers. Light wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
3°/9°
Kaweka J Summit
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -8°C at 4am.
-4°/5°
Light rain. Strong wind with gusts up to 125 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -7°C at 6am.
-0°/2°
Some chance of snow. Strong wind with gusts up to 125 km/h. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -10°C at 7pm.
-3°/2°
Light snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h.
-5°/-1°
McKinnon Pass
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Fresh wind with gusts up to 70 km/h. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -1°C at 8am.
3°/5°
Persistent rain and some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 60 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -4°C at 11pm.
-1°/3°
Some chance of snow. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -11°C at 10pm.
-7°/-1°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
-7°/0°
Mt Heale Hut
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 40 km/h.
9°/12°
Light rain. Strong wind with gusts up to 75 km/h.
10°/13°
Chance of light showers. Gale with gusts up to 120 km/h.
10°/12°
Chance of light showers. Strong wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
10°/11°
Mt Pirongia
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
2°/8°
Rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 75 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to 1°C at 6am.
4°/7°
Light rain. Strong wind with gusts up to 125 km/h. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -3°C at 11pm.
3°/7°
Chance of light showers. Moderate wind with gusts up to 80 km/h.
-1°/5°
Mueller Hut
Persistent rain, heavy at times and high chance of snow. Fresh wind with gusts up to 75 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -6°C at 2pm.
1°/2°
Persistent rain and medium chance of snow. Fresh wind with gusts up to 70 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -8°C at 10am.
-3°/1°
Some chance of snow. Strong wind with gusts up to 55 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -15°C at 10am.
-9°/-4°
Partly cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 30 km/h.
-9°/-1°
Pinnacles Hut
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 20 km/h.
4°/11°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
5°/11°
Chance of light showers. Strong wind with gusts up to 105 km/h.
5°/9°
Chance of light showers. Moderate wind with gusts up to 75 km/h.
3°/7°
Pouakai Hut
Cloudy. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility.
2°/5°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -1°C at 1am.
4°/6°
Some chance of snow. Strong wind with gusts up to 120 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -6°C at 9am.
1°/4°
Chance of light snow showers. Moderate wind with gusts up to 70 km/h.
-3°/3°
Powell Hut
Light rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h.
1°/5°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Strong wind with gusts up to 115 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -3°C at 5am.
3°/5°
Persistent rain and some chance of snow. Fresh wind with gusts up to 95 km/h. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -8°C at 8pm.
-1°/4°
Chance of light snow showers. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
-2°/1°
Rotoiti/Nelson Lk VC
Cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 20 km/h.
1°/9°
Rain. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h.
5°/10°
Light rain. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -3°C at 11pm.
-1°/7°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 25 km/h.
-1°/7°
Roys Peak
Some chance of snow. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -5°C at 1am.
-1°/3°
Some chance of snow. Light wind with gusts up to 25 km/h. Some chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -6°C at 11pm.
-3°/-0°
Some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -11°C at 7am.
-8°/-2°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 25 km/h.
-9°/-3°
Tongariro VC
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 25 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility.
-1°/8°
Persistent rain, heavy at times. Moderate wind with gusts up to 40 km/h. Medium chance of low visibility. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -0°C at 7am.
3°/6°
Persistent rain, heavy at times and some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -7°C at 8am.
-1°/4°
Some chance of snow. Moderate wind with gusts up to 45 km/h.
-3°/3°
Waitawheta Hut
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 20 km/h.
4°/11°
Light rain. Moderate wind with gusts up to 55 km/h.
6°/12°
Light rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 85 km/h.
6°/10°
Chance of light showers. Moderate wind with gusts up to 50 km/h.
3°/8°
Woolshed Creek Hut
Cloudy. Fresh wind with gusts up to 90 km/h.
2°/8°
Light rain. Fresh wind with gusts up to 90 km/h. Medium chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -0°C at 10pm.
1°/8°
Some chance of snow. Light wind with gusts up to 35 km/h. High chance of low visibility. High chance of low temperatures with wind chill down to -9°C at 10pm.
-6°/1°
Partly cloudy. Light wind with gusts up to 20 km/h.
-6°/2°

Report created on 23 Jul, 2026 at 08:06am. For a full forecast of the park of your choice, visit NIWA.

Quiz

Answer B - Golden Bay

Golden Bay is the northern access point for the Abel Tasman National Park. It is protected to the north by Farewell Spit. Golden Bay is popular for its sandy beaches, water-based activities, and access to walking tracks.

Quiz provided by Pam Hutton/PuzzleBeetle.

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