What we do

Engineering Tracks and Outdoor Visitor Structures in Aotearoa New Zealand

We are engineering consultants specialising in tracks and outdoor visitor structures, focused on the Parks and Reserves and Outdoor Visitor Experience sectors.

With over 30 years of experience, Frame Group is trusted across Aotearoa New Zealand to deliver safe, sustainable and context-sensitive engineering solutions. Our work supports public access, environmental protection and meaningful visitor engagement, from urban parks to remote rural backcountry trails.

Our EXPERTISE

Frame Group is a specialist consultancy in tracks and outdoor visitor structures. These assets support access to places of interest, recreational activities and community connection, whilst protecting Aotearoa’s natural and cultural landscapes.

Our expertise also extends to related outdoor visitor structures such as viewing platforms, and to supporting infrastructure such as drainage and retaining walls, together with outdoor visitor buildings and vehicle bridges. We also have expertise with many marine and river structures, such as jetties and coastal protection.

Our expertise goes beyond physical design. We bring a deep understanding of the environments and communities we work within, including specialist experience in Kauri Dieback Track Mitigation, climate adaptation and heritage structure restoration

PATHS, Tracks AND Trails

  • Walking and Cycling Paths, Tracks and Trails

  • Shared Paths and Tracks

  • Mountain Bike Trails

Access Structures

  • Pedestrian Bridges

  • Cable Structure (Swing and Suspension) Pedestrian Bridges

  • Boardwalks

  • Wetland Boardwalks

  • Boxed Steps and Staircases

Marine and River structures

  • Jetties

  • Wharves

  • Boardwalks

  • Riverbank and Costal Protection Structures

  • Monitoring Site Infrastructure

Other Outdoor Visitor Structures

  • Viewing Platforms

  • Seating

  • Shelters

  • Structural Supports for Signage, Monuments and Sculptures

  • Playground Structures

Outdoor Visitor Buildings

  • Huts

  • Bird Hides

  • Toilet Facilities

  • Visitor Centres

  • Shelters

  • Other specialist buildings in parks, reserves or remote locations

Climate Adaptation

  • Options Assessment and Advice for tracks and outdoor visitor structures

  • Blue-Green Projects

Supporting Infrastructure

  • Drainage

  • Retaining Walls

  • Slope Protection

  • Barriers, Fencing and Gates

  • Bollards

Kauri dieback track design NZ

Kauri Dieback Track Mitigation

  • Design and Construction Management

  • Standards, Guidelines and Procedures

  • Training on Construction and Maintenance

Vehicle Access Infrastructure

  • Vehicle Bridges

  • Access Roads

Heritage Structure Restoration

  • Bridges, Wharves and other outdoor visitor structures

  • Preservation and Restoration

  • Usage Conversion to outdoor visitor structures

HOW WE WORK

Beyond the structures we deliver, our approach reflects the complexity of the environments we work in. We combine practical problem-solving with environmental awareness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative thinking to deliver outcomes that are both effective and enduring.

Environmentally focused engineering design NZ

Environmental and Societal focus

We work in some of Aotearoa’s most sensitive environments, where every decision matters. Our designs and advice reflect a deep respect for land, people and long-term impact.

  • Inherent focus on environmental protection

  • Sustainability in materials selection and construction methodology

  • Respect for cultural and heritage values

  • Awareness of the ongoing changes in societal expectations

Partnerships on projects NZ

Collaboration and Partnerships

Complex projects need more than just technical skill. We build relationships, bring people together and create space for shared decision-making.

  • Engagement with mana whenua from inception of a project

  • Co-design and shared decision-making

  • Working with relevant community groups to incorporate local knowledge

  • Effective collaboration with other specialist consultants to deliver seamlessly on the client’s overarching project requirements

  • Fostering partnerships to deepen the working relationship with selected key specialist consultants

SOLUTIONING and DeSIGN EFFECTIVENESS

We are problem-solvers by nature. Our strength lies in finding practical, buildable solutions that work across all kinds of terrain and environments.

  • Site-specific solutioning and options identification - including geotechnical, hydrological, ecological, cultural and heritage considerations

  • Whole of Life Costing expertise – to help inform optimal design solution

  • Budget-aware solutions and designs – including pragmatic, cost effective designs where required

  • Constructability of design - considering materials selection, site access and construction methodology - to help enable construction delivery on time and on budget

  • Use of modern site data capture, design and draughting techniques and software

  • Bringing concept and detailed designs to life with various forms of 3D visualisation

OUR SERVICES

ADVISORY

Helping clients shape strategy, build capability and navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.

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Asset Assessments

Providing meaningful condition and fit-for-purpose assessments to help clients make smarter short and long-term asset management decisions.

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Feasibility Studies and Options Assessment

Identifying opportunities and challenges, testing ideas, and exploring options based on a range of relevant criteria, to help clients make well-informed choices before committing.

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Solutioning, Concept Design and Visualisation

Identifying the optimal means to achieve a clients’ objectives based on site-specific assessment, and turning this into achievable, costed concept designs, including 3D visualisation where required, to support design engagement and with seeking funding.

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Detailed Design and Engineering

Delivering clear, buildable designs that balance technical detail with real-world constructability.

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Consents Management

Supporting clients through Building and Resource Consent processes with early insight and practical coordination.

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Construction Management

Providing a range of services depending on client need to support project delivery to ensure works are built safely, efficiently and to specification.

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Where We Work

URBAN OPEN SPACES

Urban Spaces

RURAL

BACKCOUNTRY

THROUGHOUT AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

With a long history in the industry and a substantial volume of past projects, Frame Group has built significant local knowledge across almost every part of Aotearoa New Zealand. As such, we have both the capacity and local knowledge to deliver our specialist professional services throughout the country from our offices in Auckland and Wellington.

WHo we work with

We have considerable experience working with a wide range of clients within the Parks & Reserves and Outdoor Visitor Experience sectors.

    • Councils

      Council Owned Entities

    • Central Government

    • Government Owned Entities

    • Regional Economic Development Agencies

    • Facilities Management Companies

    • Tourism and Visitor Experience Companies

    • Luxury Lodges

    • Accommodation Providers

    • Farmers

    • Land Developers

    • Trusts

    • Iwi / Hapu-owned Businesses

    • Residential Estates

    • Golf Courses

    • National / Major Community Organisations

    • Local Community Groups

    • Trail Trusts

    • Catchment Groups

    • Lifestyle, Rural or Backcountry Landowners

Let’s talk about your project

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