Illuminate your backyard all year round
Photo by Toby Scott
Are you looking for a solution to stay cosy during those cooler nights while illuminating your backyard? Whether you love to entertain or you’re a budding chef, a fire pit or outdoor fireplace is a home essential.
You may already own a barbeque or outdoor pizza oven. Still, a firepit will enhance your outdoor furniture, serving as an illuminating focal point to gather around.
To help you select a firepit, brazier or fireplace for your outdoors, consult our guide to five of the best sturdy, safe and reliable models available on the NZ market.
2024’s top 3 fire pits and outdoor fireplaces
- Ikuby Ball of Fire Pit, $383.39, Amazon
- Cook King Bandito Multifunctional Firepit, $999, Trade Tested
- Steel Gas Fire Table, $299, Trade Tested
The best fire pits and outdoor fireplaces 2024
1. Ikuby Ball of Fire Pit
Best for: Design enthusiasts who want to make a striking outdoor statement
$383.39 at Amazon
The best thing about this outdoor fire pit is its sleek, industrial design.
Not only will this high-grade steel fire pit make a statement outdoors, but its circular shape provides excellent airflow, ensuring a long-lasting fire to keep your guests warm.
If you fancy an outdoor feast, you’ll be delighted to hear that the fire pit has an add-on cooking grid to grill everything from kebabs to veggies.
There’s also a removal ash pan to ensure last night’s cleanup is quick and easy.
Simply light the fire, close the cage and have a carefree evening.
Key features:
- Dimensions: 25.4 cm x 30.48 cm x 25.4 cm
- Fuelled by wood, charcoal or briquettes
- Large capacity ensures a longer-lasting fire
- Heat-resistant lacquer
- Made from durable steel
- BBQ shelf grill holds up to 11kgs at a time
- Provides up to 40 sq. ft. of heat outdoors
- Easy assembly
2. Cook King Bandito Multifunctional Firepit
Best for: The host who loves to cook and entertain at the same time
$999 at Trade Tested
Love cooking for your guests but don’t want to miss the conversation? Opt for this versatile, contemporary-looking fire pit to take your al fresco entertaining to the next level.
The fire pit’s two-in-one fire bowl allows you to use it like a conventional outdoor fireplace or as an outdoor grill (simply add on the provided mast and grill grate).
If your inner chef fancies using the fire pit to cook diced meats and veggies or curries, pasta and soups, we recommend adding on the Cook King hot plate ($179), pan ($219) and lid ($149).
There’s nothing better than the sound of crackling wood – this fire pit will radiate good vibes all night long.
Key features:
- Dimensions: W 80 cm x D 80 cm x H 115 cm
- Fuelled by wood
- Welded thick steel material
- Grill plate included
- Adjustable cooking mast
- 3-year Cook King warranty
3. Steel Gas Fire Table
Best for: The home design enthusiast looking for a fire pit with day-to-night versatility
$299 at Trade Tested
By day, this steel centrepiece serves as a patio table for general use; by night, it is a focal point that adds warmth and atmosphere.
Featuring a bed of lava rocks fuelled by a concealed gas tank, the outdoor fire pit table provides a steady and even heat source for outdoor socialising.
Boasting a modern style, this fireplace design best complements a contemporary exterior setting.
Key features:
- Dimensions: W 80.2 cm x D 81.2 cm x H 62.9 cm
- Fuelled by a standard 9kg gas tank
- Powder-coated steel material
- Up to 50,000 BTUs of heat output
- Lava rocks allow smoke-free burning
- 1-year Trade Tested warranty
4. Onlyfire 28” Tabletop Gas Fire Pit Table
Best for: Adventurers desiring a portable, smokeless fire pit
$325.91 at Amazon
After a portable outdoor fire pit that can be moved off and on a countertop or taken camping? This outdoor gas fire pit is a versatile bonfire pit for outdoor activities.
The fire pit runs on a propane gas tank, ensuring a smoke and ash-free environment.
The addition of the modern glass wind guard shelters the flames, so rest assured, you’ll stay warm as the festivities continue long into the night.
Key features:
- Dimensions: 22.86 cm x 71.12 cm x 12.7 cm
- Weighs 6.99 kgs
- Fuelled by gas
- Heat-resistant surface
- Wind-resistant shields
- Easy to set up and use
5. Cook King Vento Outdoor Fireplace Plus Cooker
Best for: The family that loves woodfired pizzas and dining al fresco
$1,299 at Trade Tested
This outdoor fireplace is built to impress. It provides warmth, features an upper oven for cooking pizza, and a cooker below even more delicious food.
The pizza oven features a handy temperature gauge to ensure your pizza bases are crisped to perfection.
We recommend using the below cooker alongside the provided hot plate and grill inserts to cook everything from fish to vegetables, bake bread, or roast meat.
Notably, the fireplace’s large base compartment allows you to store a large amount of wood, allowing you to quickly top up the fire.
There’s an ash collection tray to make cleaning up a breeze, and the chimney redirects the smoke for a pleasant experience all round.
Key features:
- Dimensions: W 0.50m x D 0.50m x H 1.5m
- Fuelled by wood
- Welded laser-cut steel material
- Portable fire pit functionality
- Pizza oven up top
- Below oven compartment for cooking and baking
- Built-in pizza oven thermometer
- Hot plate and grill-grate inserts
- 3-year Cook King warranty
How can I maximise the heat distribution of my fire pit or outdoor brazier?
Layering sand or compacted dirt topped with a generous layer of gravel in the base of the fire pit are suitable ways to evenly redistribute the heat from the flame.
They’ll also protect your fire pit from wear, tear and burn spots.
What is the best type of wood to burn in a fire pit or outdoor fireplace in NZ?
For the best quality burn, select a hardwood like oak, beech, maple or hickory, which are slow-burning and produce less smoke than other varieties.
It’s also essential to ensure your wood is dry to produce an optimal amount of smoke.
Words: Mae MacDonald
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