NZ Topo Map

Winners of the Christmas Pressie Hunt

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:00:00 +1300

The prize draw has now been made and the winners contacted. It’s now my pleasure to announce the winners of the Christmas Pressie Hunt on NZ Topo Map…

Zane Fryer from Onerahi won the McMurdo Fast Find 211 Personal Locator Beacon

Shane Hunt from Auckland won the $250 Bivouac Outdoor Shopping Spree

Nicky Armstrong from Westport,
Leigh Quadling-Miernik from Auckland,
Michelle Conder also from Auckland
all won Osprey Raptor 6 Packs

Pearce Carey from Benneydale,
Josh Sullivan from Dunedin,
Dan Roberts from Auckland
all won Camelbak Hydration Packs

Tim Wiel from Waihola,
Bill Krippner from Auckland,
Dave McFadzien from Gore,
Andrew Scott from Christchurch,
Clare Macintosh from Auckland,
all won Wilderness Magazine subscriptions

Ryan Evison from Wellington,
Bradley Amos from Tauranga
both won MapToaster for PC + GPS bundles

Congratulations to all the winners! And thanks to everyone who expressed their enjoyment taking part in the Christmas Pressie Hunt, as well as the generous sponsors who provided all the great prizes and made it all possible!

The sponsors have now been informed of the winners and will be sending the prizes directly.

The sponsors:

The Last 10 Prize Locations Revealed (41 - 50)

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:22:21 +1300

A big thanks to the great sponsors who provided the prizes to make the Christmas Pressie Hunt possible:

And thanks to everyone who had fun taking part, hopefully they’ll be more prize hunts to come! Generous sponsors willing ;)

Here’s final batch of hidden pressies - 41 to 50 for all those that are curious…

41: Bluff

#HuntClue From Cape Reinga to The … topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 9, 2012

42: Moeraki Boulders

Maori legend tells that the boulders are remains of calabashes, kumaras and eel baskets that washed ashore after the legendary canoe, the Araiteuru was wrecked at nearby Shag Point (Matakaea).

#HuntClue Remains of calabashes, kumaras and eel baskets that washed ashore… topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 10, 2012

43: Te Aumiti (French Pass)

#HuntClue The only place in the world where two different levels of ocean can be seen at once - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 11, 2012

Apparently this fact is wrong, so sorry about that! Always a good idea to check sources found on the internet ;)

44: Split Apple Rock

#HuntClue You’d break your teeth if you tried to take a bite out of that apple! topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 12, 2012

45: Waikato River

#HuntClue Drifting somewhere along our longest river - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 13, 2012

46: Lake Rotomahana

The Pink and White Terraces now under Lake Rotomahana.

#HuntClue The pink and white eighth wonder of the world… topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 15, 2012

47: Gisborne

#HuntClue First city to see the sun each day - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 16, 2012

48: Ballroom Overhang by the Fox River

Ballroom Overhang Track.

#HuntClue A limestone ballroom… topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 17, 2012

49: Whakaari / White Island

White Island has the honour of being New Zealand’s most continuously active volcano during the last 40 years.

#HuntClue Our most continuously active volcano - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 18, 2012

50: Herrick Creek in Fiordland

The last confirmed sighting of a Fiordland moose was by Robin Francis Smith, who photographed a moose cow at Herrick Creek in 1952.

#HuntClue Where was the last confirmed sighting of a Fiordland moose in 1952? topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 19, 2012

Hope you all had fun hunting for the pressies, it was certainly fun coming up with the clues!

I’m still waiting for some of the prize winners to get back in contact with me. Once they’ve all been contacted they’ll be announced here.

Prize Locations Revealed (31 - 40)

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 22:13:35 +1300

A big thanks to the great sponsors who provided the prizes to make the Christmas Pressie Hunt possible:

Here’s the next batch of hidden pressies, 31 to 40 for all those that are curious…

31: Bivouac Outdoor product link to Middle of Nowhere

The clue lead to a product on our Bivouac Outdoor sponsors website, which provided a link to the hidden pressie on NZ Topo Map:
Cactus Supertrouser WK

#HuntClue These don’t wear out, they wear in… Find the answer at bivouac.co.nz - it’ll lead you to a well hidden pressie!
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 28, 2012

32: Bivouac Outdoor product link to Middle of Nowhere

The clue lead to a product on our Bivouac Outdoor sponsors website, which provided a link to the hidden pressie on NZ Topo Map:
Silva Expedition S Compass

#HuntClue The most technical gear that points north? Find the answer at bivouac.co.nz - it’ll also lead you to a well hidden pressie!
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 29, 2012

33: Bivouac Outdoor product link to Middle of Nowhere

The clue lead to a product on our Bivouac Outdoor sponsors website, which provided a link to the hidden pressie on NZ Topo Map:
Arc’teryx Men’s Alpha SV Pro Shell Jacket

#HuntClue The best Pro Shell around, designed in Canada. Find the answer at bivouac.co.nz - it’ll lead you to a well hidden pressie!
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 30, 2012

34: Bivouac Outdoor product link to Middle of Nowhere

The clue lead to a product on our Bivouac Outdoor sponsors website, which provided a link to the hidden pressie on NZ Topo Map:
Asolo Men’s TPS 535 V Full Grain Leather Wide Boot

#HuntClue These boots were made for ‘a-soloing’ routes… Find the answer at bivouac.co.nz - it’ll lead you to a well hidden pressie!
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 1, 2012

35: Flock Hill

#HuntClue Climbers flock there - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 2, 2012

36: Poor Knights Islands

#HuntClue Not poor at all, but rich in marine life - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 3, 2012

37: Paeroa

The giant L&P bottle in it’s home town.

#HuntClue Lemon and? topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 4, 2012

38: Te Puke’s Giant Kiwifruit

#HuntClue Look at the size of that Chinese Gooseberry! topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 5, 2012

39: Christmas Flat Hut

As mentioned in the article on page 18 of the December edition of Wilderness Magazine. You didn’t need to buy the magazine as it was mentioned in the issues table of contents given on Wilderness Magazine’s website.

#HuntClue You’ll find a pressie on festive page 18 of Decembers Wilderness Magazine - wildernessmag.co.nz
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 6, 2012

40: North Cape’s Surville Cliffs

#HuntClue Santa ran out of land before he could get back to the North Pole - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) December 8, 2012

Next lot’s the last 10!

Prize Locations Revealed (21 - 30)

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:43:00 +1300

A big thanks to the great sponsors who provided the prizes to make the Christmas Pressie Hunt possible:

Here’s the next batch of hidden pressies, 21 to 30 for all those that are curious…

21: Stewart Island

#HuntClue Silly, it’s not Stuart it’s Rakiura - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 19, 2012

22: Harwoods Hole

#HuntClue That’s pretty deep… our deepest vertical shaft in fact! topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 20, 2012

23: Fox Glacier

#HuntClue The sly fox Te Weheka changed it’s name - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 21, 2012

24: Napier

#HuntClue It’s a bit 1930’s - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 22, 2012

25: Near Cloudy Range

Shown in a screenshot on one of the sponsors, MapToaster’s website.

#HuntClue It’s staring you in the face on nztopomap.tumblr.com ;)
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 14, 2012

26: Pancake Rocks near Punakaiki

#HuntClue Want maple syrup with those? topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 24, 2012

27: Mount Taranaki / Mount Egmont

Used as a stand-in for Mt Fuji in the movie The Last Samuri.

#HuntClue Is that Mt Fuji I can see? topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 26, 2012

28: Tukino skifield, Mt Ruapehu

Location used as the Gates of Mordor in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

#HuntClue Gates of Mordor - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 27, 2012

29: Bivouac Outdoor product link to Middle of Nowhere

The clue lead to a product on our Bivouac Outdoor sponsors website, which provided a link to the hidden pressie on NZ Topo Map:
GoPro HERO3: Silver Edition Camera

#HuntClue Film your next extreme adventure with this. Find the answer at bivouac.co.nz - it’ll lead you to a hidden pressie!
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 28, 2012

30: Rotorua

#HuntClue Smells a bit eggy - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 28, 2012

Only 20 more to go, phew!

Prize Locations Revealed (11 - 20)

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:16:00 +1300

A big thanks to the great sponsors who provided the prizes to make the Christmas Pressie Hunt possible:

Where pressies 11 - 20 were hidden for all those that are curious…

11: Mt. Christmas

Provided as an example on the pressie hunt instructions content.

#HuntClue Have you looked at the example on topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012 ?
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 11, 2012

12: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu

#HuntClue The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the climber of mountains, the land-swallower… topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 12, 2012

13: Ross

#HuntClue There’s gold in them thar hills, and that one was pretty big! topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 13, 2012

14: Christchurch

#HuntClue Unfortunately a bit too much drop, cover and hold! topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 13, 2012

15: Xmas Flat

Shown here in a post on tumblr introducing the Christmas Pressie Hunt.

#HuntClue It’s staring you in the face on nztopomap.tumblr.com ;)
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 14, 2012

16: Hobbiton

#HuntClue There’s a lot of very short people with hairy feet living here - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 15, 2012

17: Moa Farm

#HuntClue I wonder if they produce giant drum sticks there?! topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 15, 2012

18: Oamaru

New Zealand’s home of Steampunk.

#HuntClue Steampunk central - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 16, 2012

19: Aoraki / Mount Cook

#HuntClue It’s pretty high up here!! topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 17, 2012

20: Akaroa

#HuntClue Do they serve frog legs? topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 18, 2012

Prize Locations Revealed (1 - 10)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:44:56 +1300

Congratulations to all those that played the Christmas Pressie Hunt and found some or all(!) of the prizes. It was awesome to see how many of you were having great fun with the pressie hunt.

A big thanks to the great sponsors who provided the prizes to make it all possible:

Now it’s all over it’s safe to reveal where all the pressies were hidden for all those that are curious…

1: Maori Rock Carvings at at Okuta Bay, near Taupo

#HuntClue Chiselled features - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 5, 2012

2: Fossil Forest at Curio Bay

#HuntClue Wood as hard as stone - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 5, 2012

3: Taylors Mistake, near Christchurch

#HuntClue Ships may have mistaken the Bay for Lyttelton - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 6, 2012

4: Middle of nowhere in Raukumara Range

A bit of a tricky on this one requiring Windows 7 and IE 9 or a bit of html digging.

#HuntClue Know how to pin a website to the taskbar in Windows 7 from IE9? You might find something there ;) topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 7, 2012

5: Raurimu Spiral railway line

#HuntClue Trainspotting an engineering masterpiece - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 7, 2012

6: St. Kilda Beach Shark Bell, Dunedin

#HuntClue Surf’s up… hope that isn’t a dinner bell I see! topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 8, 2012

7: Waitomo Caves

#HuntClue Who would have thought you’d need to take a torch rafting?! topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 8, 2012

8: Mount Ruapehu

#HuntClue Fire and ice - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 9, 2012

9: Bivouac Outdoor Store in Hamilton

#HuntClue Santa’s visiting one of our sponsors stores - topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 9, 2012

10: Waipukurau

aka Waikikamukau / “Why kick a moo-cow”

#HuntClue Waikikamukau (Why kick a moo-cow) topomap.co.nz/Xmas2012
— NZ Topo Map (@nztopomap) November 10, 2012

The winners will be announced once they have been contacted and notified.

Christmas Pressie Hunt!

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:21:00 +1300

Christmas is almost upon us again, so it’s time for a bit of fun!

Santa’s hidden some great pressies all over New Zealand, can you find them? Search the Topo50 map series and see how many you can find to be in with a chance to to win some great prizes!

Get searching!

The prizes up for grabs:

1 × McMurdo Fast Find 211 Personal Locator Beacon
1 × $250 Bivouac Outdoor Shopping Spree (Gift Certificate)
3 × Osprey Packs (Raptor 6)
3 × Camelbak Hydration Packs (Fairfax, Classic & Hydrobak)
5 × Wilderness Magazine subscription
2 × MapToaster for PC + GPS bundle

Thanks to our very generous sponsors:

The pressie hunt will run from 6 Nov 2012 until 6 Jan 2013. So what are you waiting for? Get searching for those pressies!

Share your KML / GPX files on NZ Topo Map

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 23:01:52 +1300

NZ Topo Map allows you to overlay your own KML and GPX files on to the map. Handy for sharing your latest tramping adventure route recorded on your GPS device or sharing a route you’ve planned out for an upcoming trip.

For example, here’s a GPX file someone has recorded of the Heaphy Track:

View Larger Topographic Map

Unfortunately NZ Topo Map can’t share files sitting on your C: drive as they’re private to you, they need to be sitting somewhere on the internet. Some people are lucky enough to have a bit of free web space somewhere they can use, but for those of you that don’t there are a number of services that will host files for you for free. One of my favourites in Dropbox.

Here’s the simple steps to upload your file to Dropbox:

Open your “Public” folder.
Upload your GPX or KML file to the public folder.
Right-click the file to “Copy public link” that you can then use in NZ Topo Map.

Once you have your file publicly available on the internet you can then share it on NZ Topo Map:

Open the “Share” tab.
Expand the “KML / GeoRSS / GPX” advanced options.
Select the file type you’ll be sharing.
Paste in the share link you copied from Dropbox.
Copy the link created in “Paste link in email or IM” to share with your friends. You can also use “Preview share link” below it to make sure it’s working correctly.

Free LINZ NZTopo50 based Garmin Custom Maps

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:35:00 +1300

Garmin Custom Maps for New Zealand are now freely available for download from NZ Topo Map.

Each map sheet is available as an individual kmz formatted Garmin Custom Map download so you can pick and choose the areas you want coverage for.

To get an idea which Garmin devices support Garmin Custom Maps visit their website: http://www.garmin.com/us/products/onthetrail/custommaps

These kmz formatted files can also be used as light weight Google Earth overlays as an alternative to the official heavier LINZ GeoTIFF’s.

To download these Garmin Custom Map files…

Visit NZ Topo Map and search for the location you’re interested in:

Open the downloads tab and click the map sheet you want to download to see the download links:

Once you’ve downloaded the Garmin Custom Map compatible kmz files you want you can copy them to your Garmin device for use off-line: