Orienteering in New Zealand 🇳🇿

Overview

New Zealand has an enthusiastic orienteering community, with active clubs, national championships and international competitions across both the North and South Islands. The sport has a strong tradition of welcoming competitors of different ages and abilities, with events ranging from local club races to major multi-day festivals.For visiting orienteers, New Zealand is especially appealing because of its variety. You can race through complex coastal dune systems, navigate fast-running pine forests or tackle demanding hillside terrain—all while exploring one of the world's most spectacular travel destinations.

Official event calendar ↗

Major terrains & landscapes

• Coastal sand dunes – Woodhill Forest & Manawatū: Intricate dunes, depressions and sandy ridges create highly technical terrain where accurate contour reading is essential. Woodhill, near Auckland, is one of the country's best-known orienteering areas.• Pine forests & volcanic landscapes – Central North Island: Plantation forests, volcanic landforms and varied vegetation offer fast running alongside demanding navigation and route choices.• Native forests & mountain foothills – South Island: Steeper slopes, detailed contours and varied forest cover create physically challenging courses, often surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery.