Luggage List: Packing for Australia

Packing for Australia can seem a little daunting at first, especially if you’re planning on travelling all over the country.

There are so many states, time zones and climates that it’s easy to become overwhelmed at how much you should bring.

As always, I recommend not bringing too much, even if (especially if) you’re going to be Down Under for a long time.

Make sure you’ve got a backpack that is easy to carry around, as exploring Australia takes a lot of domestic travel!

Now you can avoid the overwhelm, as I’ve done the work of putting together this Australia packing list, so you don’t have to!

Here’s what to pack for Australia.

Luggage List

Clothing

• Light layers: Australia is known for being a hot country, so make sure you’ve got a few pairs of shorts/skirts and T-shirts/vests. I like to have a dress that is good for both beach days and bar nights. It’s also a good idea to have a couple of items that are light and loose but cover your arms and legs, as the sun is very intense.
• Warmer layers: Despite the country’s reputation, the southern areas can become pretty cold in the winter. Melbourne, for example, infamously has four seasons in one day quite often. Don’t pack lots of warm layers but make sure you’ve got a couple of options.
• Dress clothes: Aussies love going out to bars, especially in the cities. Depending on where you’re going, there may be a smart dress code, so make sure you have at least one nice outfit.
• Active wear: Planning on doing any hikes or outback treks? Make sure you’ve got some comfortable clothes.
• Shoes: I recommend bringing some comfortable walking shoes, flip flops (or thongs,as the locals call them) and a pair of dress shoes. Consider bringing flats rather than heels to save space.
• Swimwear: You probably don’t need me to tell you that Australia’s beaches are incredible! Bring at least a couple of swimwear options as you may find yourself at the beach for days on end.
• Raincoat: Yep, it rains in Australia! You’ll need a raincoat for the tropical showers in the far north, and the more familiar cold rain in the south.

Accessories

• Sunglasses/sun hat: Did you know that Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world? As I said earlier, the sun is extremely intense, so make sure your head and eyes are protected from those UV rays.
• Quick-dry towel: Micro-fibre towels are great for any climate; they dry quickly and pack down small.
• Sarong: This is actually one of my favourite items to pack, as it is so versatile! Use it as a beach towel, blanket, pillow, scarf or wrap-around skirt.
• Water bottle: The tap water in Australia is safe to drink, so save money and the planet by bringing a water bottle and filling it up on the go.
• Phone/camera: Australia is beautiful. Need I say more?
• Charger/adaptor: Universal adaptors are great, or you could buy a specific adaptor for Australia. Make sure it’s 230V, 50Hz with Type 1 prongs.
• Power bank: Keep your electrical items charged on long days out with a portable power bank.
• Day bag: Of course, you’re not going to want to bring all your luggage with you every day, so pack a day bag for when you plan to spend a whole day exploring.
• Padlock: These come in very handy in hostels for locking your belongings away.
• First aid kit: This is important when packing for Australia. Pick up a basic medical kit and make sure to include antiseptic cream and painkillers.

Toiletries

• Sunscreen: Keep your skin safe with a good sunscreen, and if you’re planning on swimming, make sure it is a reef-safe brand to protect Australia’s incredible marine life.
• Deodorant: Trust me, you’ll spend a lot of time feeling hot and sticky!
• Shampoo/body wash: I usually try to get these in solid form to save space.
• Insect repellent: I’m sure you’ve heard of Australia’s reputation for bugs, but this is just for the usual kind -mosquitoes. As always, there is a risk that they could be carrying a nasty disease. Plus, the itch is super annoying!

There are, of course, many other things that you might want to include when you’re packing for Australia, but I stand by what I said about less being more.

If you know that you will only be visiting one state or city, then you can adjust this Australia packing guide for the specific climate you will be visiting.

Australia is an incredible country with pretty much every landscape you could think of: beaches, rainforest, mountains, desert… I’m sure you’re looking forward to exploring them!

I spent two years in the country but there is still so much more that I want to see!

Is there anything else you’d add when packing for Australia? Do you have any questions about what I’ve included here? Let me know in the comments! 🙂

Want more like this? Check out these articles:

• 8 Marvelous things to do in Melbourne
• 13 Free and cheap things to do in Sydney
• Moving to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa

All images in this post are the property of lastminutewanders.com

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