Shelters

About

A portable shelter gives you covered outdoor space without the commitment of a full gazebo setup. Shade tents, dome shelters, and pop-up beach shelters are quick to deploy, easy to pack, and genuinely useful whenever you need a dry or shaded spot — at the beach, at a campsite, at a school event, or in the backyard. The key difference between a shelter and a gazebo is structure. Shelters are lighter and more packable — they set up in minutes and fit in a bag you can carry to the beach. Gazebos have a heavier steel frame with more headroom and stability. If you need something to carry in one hand down to the waterfront, a shelter is the right tool. If you need a dedicated camp kitchen cover for a week-long trip, look at our gazebo range . What to Look For UPF rating: For beach and summer use, a UPF 50+ rated cover blocks 98% of UV. NZ UV levels are among the highest in the world — don't underestimate this. Setup time: Pop-up designs open in seconds. Hub-and-pole designs take a couple of minutes but pack flatter. Consider which suits where you're going. Wind pegs and guy ropes: Even a beach shelter needs to be pegged down properly. Check that the model you choose includes pegs and ropes — ours do. Packed size: If you're walking to a beach or campsite, check the packed dimensions before buying. Some shelter bags are awkward to carry any distance. Frequently Asked Questions What's the difference between a shelter and a gazebo? Shelters are lighter, more packable, and designed for portability — ideal for beach trips, day outings, and situations where you need to carry the shelter a distance. Gazebos have a heavier steel frame with more headroom and stability, better suited to base camp setups and multi-day trips where you're not moving the structure daily. Both provide sun and rain protection; gazebos offer more covered space for the trade-off in weight and pack size. What UPF rating do I need for a beach shelter in NZ? UPF 50+ is the standard to look for — it blocks 98%