10 Meaningful Gifts for Hikers in NZ – From Gear to Keepsakes
🎒 For the Trampers, Trail Seekers, and Hut-Baggers in Your Life
Whether they’re conquering the Milford Track, section-hiking Te Araroa, or spending weekends ticking off local day walks, the hikers in your life deserve something more thoughtful than another pair of socks.
This guide isn’t just about gear. It’s about meaningful gifts—items that spark memories, support their adventures, and celebrate their love for the outdoors. These ideas are perfect for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, trail completions, or just because.
Here are 10 memorable gifts for hikers in New Zealand, handpicked by the team at Tides Out Maps.
🧭 1. A Personalised Topographic Map of Their Favourite Walk
Forget generic art—this is a handcrafted map that tells their story. Whether it's the Routeburn, Te Araroa, or a custom trail mashup, our NZ Topo Maps are made to order and can include:
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Their name, trail, and date
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A marked route or hut location
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A quote or message of encouragement
🛒 Shop NZ Topo Maps →
✍️ Add a Bespoke Touch →
📓 2. Hiking Journal or Trail Logbook
Great for recording:
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Track notes
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Weather conditions
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Trail food successes (and failures)
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Wildlife sightings
Pair it with a map for a powerful memory-keeping duo.
🧦 3. High-Quality Merino Socks
Not just a cliché—socks matter when you’re clocking 15–20 km a day. Look for NZ brands like Icebreaker, Macpac or Wilderness Wear that specialise in tramping gear.
🧭 4. Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)
One of the most thoughtful gifts you can give a solo hiker or someone heading off-grid. Lightweight, life-saving, and a sign that you care about their safety.
🧢 5. Custom Embroidered Cap or Patch
Create a cap or patch with:
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The name of the trail
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A trail nickname
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“Team Milford 2025” or “Te Araroa Finisher”
It’s fun, functional, and perfect for group tramps.
🍲 6. DIY Tramping Meal Kit
Put together a little care package with:
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Freeze-dried meals
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Trail snacks
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A titanium spork
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Instant coffee or electrolyte sachets
Bonus points for including their favourite guilty pleasure (Whittaker’s slab, anyone?).
🎥 7. Mini Tripod or Trail-Ready Camera Accessory
For hikers who love to document their trips:
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A mini tripod
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Lightweight phone mount
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Lens cleaner and dry bag
Helps them capture the hut life, the views, and their triumphant muddy boots moment.
🛏️ 8. DOC Hut Pass or Track Booking Credit
For the hiker who already has the gear but always dreams of the next walk, a hut pass or a pre-paid DOC booking makes the perfect nudge.
🔗 Visit the DOC Booking Portal →
📍 9. Personalised Te Araroa Map (for End-to-End Finishers)
If they’ve completed all or part of Te Araroa, honour that effort with a map that marks their full journey. It's the kind of gift that says everything without saying a word.
🛒 Design a Custom Te Araroa Map →
🎁 10. A Shared Experience or Memory Marker
Sometimes the best gift is an experience:
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A weekend getaway to revisit their favourite track
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A framed trail photo
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A voucher to design their own custom topo map
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A post-hike gift box with wine, bath salts, and map art
🔗 See: 3 Ways to Turn a Great Walk into a Keepsake →
🌄 Final Thoughts
For hikers, every step on the trail is a story. So when it comes to gifting, give something that speaks to that journey—something practical, personal, and purposeful.
From topo maps to trail treats, your gift can help them walk further, remember deeper, and feel truly seen.