Thread: NZ topo maps on phone /gps with free with no cell coverage.

Not sure if this has been put out on the forum

nztopo maps ( New Zealand Topographic Maps Offline )

The Guys at Nztopo maps have some decent instructions on how get nz topo maps to work with cell phones and other devices offline and for free.

Basically down load one of the apps below

Device Application
iPhone / iPad / iPod Galileo Offline Maps
Android Devices Locus Map
Android Devices BackCountry Navigator | [Blog post]
Garmin GPS Garmin Custom Maps
Windows Mobile Maplorer

then go to New Zealand Topographic Maps Offline on the device browser click the link to down load the source

then when it promts for an application to open it select Galileo

you will then have nztopo maps on the app.

to use offline search there area you intend to hunt (on wifi) with the highest zoom (This will allow the phone to download and save the maps tiles.)
to test turn on airplane mode and see if you can view the maps tiles you wanted.
I have only tried on the IPhone and it worked great in the forest with no cell coverage even after turning the phone on and off. The web site has instructions on how to get it on garmin GPS devices as well.

A friend just downloaded ALL of Nz topomaps on his iPhone for $5 even has a GPS function that shows you where you are. No cellphone coverage needed. Not sure how well it works under tree cover though.

I use Map Toaster on my iphone. Download is free for topo250 maps of NZ, and costs $7.50 per island for Topo50. Works very, very well. I used it when on holiday in the SI with the family. Was great for finding out of the way places to stop off and explore for lunch etc. Only negative to date is that it has limited search functionality if you are trying to find a place by name, and you have to be careful with some roads in that I plotted a couple of routes only to find that what I thought were roads turned out to be forestry tracks with locked gates

I've had NZ topo work under trees and down the bottom of valleys. It depends more on the phone than the app to get the GPS signal.

Remember to load all the maps beforehand and switch to 'airplane mode' when it the bush to save battery, or your phone won't last half a day if its trying to get a cell signal. GPS shuld still work ok.

great app!

Been a bit of chat on the other forum about this exact thing.

Cool, thanks for that.