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Exploring the outdoors safely
New Zealand weather changes fast and phone coverage disappears outside towns. The five Land Safety Code steps for any walk or hike.
- Last checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Next review
- 21 Apr 2027
What to do next
The Land Safety Code
- Choose the right trip for you and everyone in your group.
- Understand the weather, check the forecast and change your plans if needed.
- Pack warm clothes and extra food, in case of bad weather or an unplanned night out.
- Share your plans with someone you trust and take ways to get help, cellphone coverage can be patchy or non-existent. Consider a distress beacon.
- Take care of yourself and each other, eat, drink, rest and stay together.
Common mistakes
- Treating a sunny morning as a sunny day. Mountain and coastal weather can turn quickly.
- Underestimating the sun, UV levels in New Zealand summers are high.