Our friends at NZ Mountain Safety Council know a thing or two about staying safe in the outdoors. Whether you're new to tramping or have years of backcountry experience, they've got useful tools to help you plan your trip and get outdoors safely. But firstly...
Who is MSC?
NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) is a not-for-profit national organisation who has been working for more than 50 years with a mandate to encourage safe participation in land-based outdoor activities. They're pretty damn cool, and have some pretty damn cool resources to help keep you safe on your outdoor adventures.
Plan My Walk
If you're heading into the outdoors, Plan My Walk should be your first stop. It’s a free trip planning app and website from MSC - and it’s quickly becoming the go-to for trampers and hikers across New Zealand, with almost 750,000 users in 2025 and growing.
Plan My Walk is now New Zealand’s largest official track database. You’ll find nearly 2,000 tracks, plus hundreds of huts and campsites. New ones are being added all the time!
With Plan My Walk you can:
- Find tracks near you
- Check weather forecasts and alerts from MetService
- Get up-to-date track alerts from Department of Conservation (DOC)
- Find the avalanche forecast for the area
- Share your trip plans with family and friends
- Build interactive gear lists
- Read real reviews from other walkers
Compiling data from DOC, MetService, the NZ Avalanche Advisory, Te Araroa, many local councils and more - you’ll always have the latest info on hand.
Try it for yourself – download the app from the App Store or Google Play, or visit planmywalk.nz. Head to the MSC website to learn more.
Videos
The MSC Tramping Video Series is another key resource designed to help trampers prepare for an adventure. Take a look at the full playlist of tramping tracks. Videos are added frequently!
Website Resources
Looking for more safety tips? The NZ Mountain Safety Council website is packed with helpful info on everything from trip planning to river crossings. A few great places to start:
Keep up to date with the latest from MSC.
NZ Avalanche Advisory
The NZ Avalanche Advisory (NZAA) is New Zealand's official backcountry avalanche forecasting service.
Provided by MSC, the NZAA gives backcountry users, like skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers, and alpine trampers and hunters, vital information so they can plan their trip and make safer decisions in avalanche terrain. The forecasts include the avalanche danger rating and anticipated avalanche problems in the area.
We’re so lucky in New Zealand to have such epic forecasting tool available to recreational users for free. Check it out the NZ Avalanche Advisory here.
For more on avalanche safety, take a look at MSC’s free 23-part avalanche safety video series, Avalanche Tips and Terms: From the forecast to the field. It’s essential viewing for anyone heading into the backcountry.
