Outdoor Fire Pits

What Are Fire Pits? 

An outdoor fire pit is what makes the difference between a cosy autumn night under the stars and an ordinary evening inside. With a proper design and utilisation, fire pits boost both the outdoor experience and the property's curb appeal. Fire pits come in a broad range of types, designs, fuels, sizes, and materials in New Zealand.

Benefits of Outdoor Fire Pits

Fire pits provide warmth and can make the patio usable year-round. They also serve as an ambient light source, creating a special kind of atmosphere. Just like campfires, they can be used for cooking, too. Fire pits with a special metal grill on top even double as BBQ features for outdoor cooking.

Tabletop Fire Pits

Tabletop fire pits are small and very portable, easy to fit on top of a typical patio table. Due to the size, they are not the best warmers around, but still provide a striking visual feature. Tabletop fire pits require minimum maintenance and are suitable for balconies and verandas. 

A fire ring resembles a traditional campfire more than any other fire pit design. When designed with the bowl, they can be used as tabletops. Without the bowl, they act like real campfire containers. Fire rings are typically made of metal in New Zealand and are portable and lightweight. 

Fire Table

A fire table is a fire pit in the middle of an outdoor coffee table. Just like a regular table, a fire table comes in a variety of styles. Fire tables are typically the largest type of fire pits, not very portable, but perfect for multi-use. 

Fire Column

A fire column is a tall and sleek version of a fire table. Some models feature a fire bowl, while some appear torch-like, with the fire coming directly out from the top. Fire columns often have elaborated detailing, and fit great even to the smallest outdoor spaces in New Zealand. 

Fire Bowl

A fire bowl looks like a large container for logs if it's wood-fueled, or for glass beads if it's gas-powered. It can be placed in/on the ground, or stand elevated on legs like a fire table. Depending on the size, fire bowls can be moved around and maintained with ease. 

Fire pagodas come with raised platforms for building a fire, but also with protective roofs, and screened walls. Although complex, these designs are very portable.

Choosing the Right Fuel Type in New Zealand

Wood is, of course, the most traditional fuel source for a fire in New Zealand. It's natural, affordable, and feels like being somewhere in the wild. On the downside, wood produces smoke and ashes, requiring some effort to ignite and to maintain. For garden owners, a wood-burning fire pit is a good solution since the quantities of ash it produces can be used as plant nutrients.

Unlike wood-fuelled, gas-powered fire pits can ignite at the flip of a switch. They use either propane tanks or a natural gas source, which makes them less cost-effective than wood-fuelled options. Still, gas provides a higher level of control over fire and requires less maintenance. 

Fire Pit Materials

Gas fire pits commonly feature bowl fillers made of lava rocks, stones, or glass beads that hide the bottom burner element and add visual appeal. Tabletop fire pits and fire columns' design is embellished with stone or masonry detailing. Brick Fire pits made exclusively of stone are relatively heavy and suitable as a permanent solution in New Zealand. 

A copper fire pit adds warmth and boasts a rich green patina that adds to the landscaping appeal. However, this material requires frequent cleaning and is not the best choice for those looking for a low-maintenance option.

Steel is corrosion-resistant, often painted and powder-coated for durability. It's also lightweight and a good choice for a portable fire pit.

Things to Consider Before Choosing a Fire Pit in New Zealand

Safety and maintenance are among the key factors for choosing the right product. Fire pits can deliver a lot of heat and should be kept at a safe distance from flammable features and garden plants. A fire pit should never stand directly on grass or decking, rather on a stone or concrete slab or brick patio.

The best place to install a fire pit is in the open air, away from trees and bushes. A gas-powered pit might be a better choice than a wood-burning option, especially for semi-enclosed areas. It's easy to control, and also requires less maintenance—occasional cleaning is enough.