Great Walks of New Zealand
Cooking & Food Equipment
During the Great Walks Season gas burners are available at the huts for use (except for the Abel Tasman and Lake Waikaremoana). Hikers will still need to carry cooking utensils, pots, plates and cleaning equipment. Although gas burners are provided, many hikers and those camping will also carry a portable stove. It's always a good idea to take a portable stove regardless in cases of emergencies and to be able to cook on the trail.
A bit of kitchen equipment will also be needed for preparing and eating meals that are portable, multi-purpose, and lightweight.
Check out below some cooking and food equipment essentials.
Portable Hiking Stoves
Some Great Walk huts provide gas burners during the Great Walks season but not all of them, so check each walk prior to departure. It's always a good idea to carry a portable stove to provide options to cook anywhere on the trail and for emergencies. The kitchens can also get really busy during dinner time, so it is nice to have the option to cook outside in nature.
There are so many portable stoves available, so how do you choose?
Things to consider
1. Purpose - What are you cooking? Do you just need to boil water for dehydrated or ready-to-eat meals or will you be cooking/simmering food?
2. Size - Do you need the smallest and lightest stove just for emergencies or to keep pack weight down? Or can you carry a bigger stove?
3. Environment - What conditions will you be cooking in? Will you be in higher altitudes, cold or wet conditions, or fire ban areas? Check out some stove options available on the link below and find out what stoves we are carrying.
4. Fuel - Consider what fuel the stove burns and is available. Hiking stoves can use gas canisters, liquid fuel, or alternative fuels that burn wood or solid fuel tablets.
Gas canisters are the most common type of fuel used by hikers in NZ. Canisters are convenient and widely available at outdoor stores, petrol stations, and shops close to the tracks. They're easy to use and come ready with no filling required. Although the canisters can be a little bulky there are options to choose different sized canisters depending on the length of your hiking trip.
Remember that gas canisters are not permitted on airplanes in NZ so you will need to purchase them at your destination if flying. Talk with accommodation/transport providers who can often help you find local stores or even provide them at a small extra cost. Often other hikers may leave behind partially used canisters you can have.
Check out the different types of hiking stoves below.
gas Cannister Stoves
Canister stoves are generally very compact and portable and take up little room in your pack. Simply screw the stove component to the top of the gas canister or connect the stove to the canister via a hose, turn on the gas, and ignite. Don't forget to pack matches or a lighter in a waterproof container.
Check out some options:
MSR Pocket Rocket 2 Stove - screws to the top of the gas canister and is ultralight. Comes with a hard-shell carry case.
Fire-Maple Compact FMS-103 Gas Cooker - screws to the top of the gas canister. A simple, cheap, and easy design.
PROS:
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Very compact and lightweight
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Inexpensive options available
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Easy to use and quick to ignite
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Flame is adjustable giving ability to simmer
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Ability to cook a range of food
CONS:
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Flames are susceptible to inclement weather making cooking a bit more challenging if outside. Windscreens cannot be used on stove components that sit on top of the canister, due to the risk of explosions from overheating
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Need to carry pot/pan to cook food in
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Need to carry matches/lighter to ignite the gas
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Stove arms can be small and are not always stable enough to hold bigger pots
Integrated Cooking Systems
Integrated Cooking Systems include the stove component and an integrated cooking cup that connects to the gas canister. Integrated cooking systems reduce the need to carry pots/pans and boil water efficiently in a couple of minutes.
Check out some options:
Jet Boil - probably one of the most well-known and popular all-in-one cooking systems. Powerful and super quick to boil water. Comes with insulating cozy and push button ignition, so no matches needed. There are options for different cup sizes and additional attachments if you want to cook food or make plunger coffee.
Bushbuck - offers a portable stove at a slightly cheaper price point than Jet Boil. A NZ owned company that caters to hunters and is made for the harsh NZ environment.
Kmart - also offer a very cheap integrated cooking system approx $65. It is a bit bulkier than other versions and takes slightly longer to boil water, but reviews indicate it works fine. If you are on a budget this could be an option, bearing in mind the longevity of Kmart goods.
PROS:
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All-in-one cooking system. No need to carry extra pots and pans
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Efficient and can boil water much quicker than using a pot
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Performs well in inclement weather with built in windscreen
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Built in ignition, so no need to carry matches/lighter
CONS:
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More expensive, bulkier, and heavier than a canister stove
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The cooking cup is designed to boil water quickly, not so much for cooking/simmering food although most systems offer separate attachments that can hold a pot/pan
Liquid Fuel & Multi Fuel Canister Stoves
Liquid fuel and multi fuel canisters are refillable fuel bottles that connect to the stove component via a fuel line. The fuel bottle can be filled with liquid fuel (usually white gas) found at most outdoor stores, hardware stores, and gas stations under the brand Coleman Fuel or Shellite. Multi fuel canisters also have the ability to burn many types of different fuels making them popular with international backpackers when limited fuel options exist.
Prior to flying check with the airline to ensure you can carry reusable fuel cylinders on the airplane (not all do). Don't forget to properly clean the cylinder with soap and hot water to ensure there is no smell of fuel before you fly otherwise the bottle (and you) may be staying with airport security.
Check out some options below:
MSR Whisperlite + Fuel Bottle - a common multi-fuel cannister and stove widely available in most NZ outdoor stores.
SOTO Stormbreaker + Fuel Bottle - the SOTO allows you to switch between regular gas canister to white fuel. A little cheaper than the MSR and gives the ability to invert the gas canister if needed for better performance in colder conditions.
PROS:
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These fuel stoves work well at cooler temperatures, higher altitudes, and burn hot unlike gas canisters
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Fuel bottles are refillable, and it is easy to see how much fuel is left
CONS:
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Liquid fuel stoves, however, do tend to be heavier, bulkier, and often cost more
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A little more complicated to operate as they need to be primed (burn some drops of fuel) prior to lighting
Alternative Fuel Stoves
Alternative fuel stoves use wood or solid fuel tablets rather than gas canisters. These are often used by ultralight hikers and generally used for boiling water rather than cooking, but both is possible. There is a restricted fire season in place all year round on conservation land and complete fire bans are common in NZ summers. As such, the following types of stoves are not suitable for use on the NZ Great Walks, which are all on conservation land and can pose a fire risk. So, leave these stoves at home.
Wood Burning fuel stoves can burn sticks/leaves lying around reducing the need to carry any fuel. These stoves rely on dry burning material and are not suitable in wet conditions or in areas that have fire restrictions/bans.
The Thermette is the OG wood burning fuel stove invented in NZ in 1929 and is still going strong.
Solid fuel stoves burn tablets (similar to fire lighters) and are lightweight, compact, and smokeless. Fuel tablets will burn for approx. 9 minutes and are often favored by long distance hikers needing to keep pack weight to a minimum. Tablets are not as readily available as gas canisters and cannot be used during fire bans/restrictions. Fuel tablets are a good addition though to an emergency kit.
Flameless Heather Packs
If you don't have the space for a portable cooker, are hiking in a fire ban area, or just want a lightweight option for emergencies only, consider Flameless Heater Packs. The heater packs are easy to use. Simply place your pre-cooked food inside the pack, add 50ml of water, and wait 7-10min for the meal to heat through. The heater packs use the same method as Omeals but you are able to choose what food you add into the heater pack which gives more flexibility.
PROS:
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Lightweight and takes up little space
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Only requires cold water to use
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Great for emergency kits
CONS:
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Like gas canisters cannot be carried on airplanes
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The packs aren't particularly sustainable and are single-use only
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Per use, is a more expensive option than other portable stove options
Other essential kitchen gear
Kitchen sets can often be purchased in most outdoor stores, or alternatively you may have gear at home you can bring. Things to bring:
1. Pot - A light pot to cook food in. Some portable cookers have an integrated cooking cup so a pot may not be necessary. Some huts have pots left by previous hikers but not always.
2. Bowl - Collapsible bowls are popular to save room in your pack. If eating store bought dehydrated foods only, you can often eat straight from the packet, so a bowl may not even be required.
3. Mug
4. Fork/spoon - Consider a 'Spork' - a spoon at one end and fork at the other.
5. Knife - A small sharp knife or utility knife works well. Just remember not to check it in your luggage when flying or it may be confiscated.
6. Dish soap and tea towel - Microfiber towels are a great option and dry easily.
7. Rubbish Bag - A large size ziplock is best to prevent smells and spills, or consider environmentally friendly reusable options like silicone pouches, Smelly Proof ziplock bags, or the KEA Stash Bag.