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Luggage List: Packing for New Zealand

Dated: July 20, 2020

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Sheep, mountains and sea
French Pass in the Marlborough Sounds

When I was packing for New Zealand, I didn’t really know where to start.

I knew that it was a country that could be very cold, and I also knew that I planned to live in a camper van for some, if not all, of my time there.

So, I thought I’d need to bring lots of warm clothes. I was going for two years, after all!

The problem was that I was going to be spending a few months in Southeast Asia first, so I needed to pack for both climates. This ended up being a good thing because it meant I packed a smaller amount of both warmer and cooler clothes, and I ended up using all of it in New Zealand anyway.

Whether you’re going for a shorter holiday or a longer trip, try not to pack too much. Prioritize things like hiking boots and decent rain gear and remember that there are reasonably priced clothing shops out there.

I’ve put together the ultimate packing guide for New Zealand, which I wish I’d had before I left, so that you don’t have to stress about it!

Luggage List

Wide valley floor with mountains
The view from Mt Sunday aka Edoras from Lord of the Rings

CLOTHING

  • Light layers: You may think of snow-capped mountains when you think of New Zealand, but it actually gets very hot in summer. Especially if you’re in the north of the country.
  • Warmer layers: If you’re heading to the southern half of the South Island then it’ll be cold at times, even in summer. Don’t fill your luggage with lots of bulky items, but make sure you’ve got a few warm layers for those cold nights. Fleece jackets are great because they keep you warm without taking up too much space. Also, don’t forget that New Zealand is famous for its merino wool so you can always buy more layers there if you don’t bring enough.
  • Active wear: If there’s one thing New Zealand is fantastic for, it’s hiking. Bring some clothes that you will be comfortable walking in for hours at a time.
  • Shoes: Hiking boots, trainers and flip flops were enough for me.
  • Swimwear: New Zealand has so many stunning beaches, lakes and rivers that you’ll be dying to go for a swim!
  • Raincoat: You’ll probably use this quite a lot, so make sure it’s a decent one.

ACCESSORIES

  • Sunglasses/sun hat: Due to its proximity to the hole in the ozone layer, New Zealand has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, next to Australia. Protect yourself from those damaging 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: There are plenty of places around New Zealand where you can fill up your drinking water for free. Save money and the environment by bringing a reusable water bottle.
  • Phone/camera: It’s hard to find any area of New Zealand that is not absolutely beautiful. You’ll be snapping photos pretty much everywhere you go!
  • Charger/adaptor: Universal adaptors are great, or you could buy a specific adaptor for New Zealand.
  • 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 New Zealand. 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!
  • Deodorant: A roll-on deo takes up less of your luggage space.
  • Shampoo/body wash: I usually try to get these in solid form to save space.
  • Insect repellent: SAND FLIES!! New Zealand has plenty of these annoying little bugs that love to bite, plus the usual mosquitoes.
Lakeside town surrounded by mountains
An aerial view of Queenstown, South Island

There are probably lots of other things you’d like to include on your New Zealand packing list, but I definitely recommend keeping your luggage as small as possible.

Depending on which season you’ll be visiting in, be sure to pack appropriately; if you’re only visiting the South Island in July and August (winter), you’re not going to be needing many pairs of shorts!

If you’re staying for long enough to explore both islands, which I really hope you are, just be aware that temperatures and weather conditions can vary drastically.

New Zealand is one of the most stunning countries I’ve ever visited. Whether you’re after beaches or mountains, forests or volcanoes, you’ll find it all there!

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

Want more like this? Check out these articles:

  • Luggage List: Packing for Australia
  • 14 Best things to do in New Zealand’s North Island
  • Moving to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa

All images in this post belong to lastminutewanders.com

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Woman dancing on beach with text overlay - The Ultimate New Zealand Packing Guide
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Posted Under: Destinations, Luggage Lists, New Zealand, Travel Planning

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Smith Mitchell says

    28/07/2020 at 9:57 am

    It’s great that you share your experience. I am a novice traveler, and for me your blog is an aid in planning my trip. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      28/07/2020 at 11:06 am

      Thank you! I’m so glad it’s helpful to you πŸ™‚

      Reply
  2. Josy A says

    23/07/2020 at 5:33 pm

    Oooh I loved New Zealand. I am really glad to see you prioritized hiking boots and good things to wear out in the wilderness, and NZ has some of the best trails doesn’t it!? πŸ˜€

    The other thing I was really glad to have was insect after-bite cream. I tried with the repellent, but once those nasty sand flies have bitten you, you need something to help take down the swelling!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      24/07/2020 at 10:48 am

      Oh the NZ trails are just incredible! That’s a very good point – even with repellent some sand flies still manage to get you! I found Tiger Balm was a lifesaver after being bitten πŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Monique Cordier says

    23/07/2020 at 5:16 pm

    What a great packing list! I feel like NZ has so many different landscapes that you need to be prepared for everything!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      24/07/2020 at 10:47 am

      Very true! But it’s still important not to over-pack πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Polly says

    23/07/2020 at 12:03 pm

    Great packing list – I think it could work for pretty much anywhere around the world πŸ™‚ Something that I have started to always prepare is the raincoat, regardless where or what time of the year I am going. You really never know what the weather will end up being.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      23/07/2020 at 2:06 pm

      That’s so true, you never know when you’ll need a raincoat. But I can pretty much guarantee you’ll definitely need one in New Zealand at some point πŸ™‚

      Reply

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She's here! πŸ‘ΆπŸ» Little Dorothy Belle finally She's here! πŸ‘ΆπŸ»
Little Dorothy Belle finally made her entrance into the world on Monday evening, two weeks and a day after her due date.
She is absolute perfection and we are more in love than we ever knew we could be. β™₯️
Have you been to Hong Kong? πŸ‡­πŸ‡° If not then i Have you been to Hong Kong? πŸ‡­πŸ‡°
If not then it should definitely be on your list.
From the big city lights to beautiful mountains, beaches and wonderful culture, there is so much more to Hong Kong than you might think!
Want to plan your trip? Follow me for expert travel tips ✈️
#hongkong #visithongkong #asiasworldcity #travelplanning #travelexpert #travelmentor #longtermtravel
We're in Hong Kong! And we brought a new little pa We're in Hong Kong! And we brought a new little passenger along for the ride β™₯οΈπŸ€°πŸ»πŸ‘ΆπŸ»πŸ₯°
Want to know how? Follow me for all the long term Want to know how? Follow me for all the long term travel planning tactics and advice to get you travelling sooner!
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Don't listen to the disbelievers! Their fears are Don't listen to the disbelievers! Their fears are being projected onto you but that doesn't mean YOU should stop!
Follow me for long term travel planning tips! 😎
Don't forget to:
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Please, please, please always get travel insurance Please, please, please always get travel insurance!
You can be as "careful" as you like but there are always so many things that are out of your control!
Chances are you'll never have to make a claim 🀞🏻 but if something DOES go wrong you'll be SO glad you're covered.
In 10 years of travel I had to make one claim but if I hadn't been covered it would have ended my travels before they even got started!
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πŸ‘₯ Hit Like and Follow 
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Don't forget to:
πŸ‘₯ Hit follow
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#travelexpert #travelmentor #mindsetmentor #travelmindset #travelmotivation #mindsetmatters #travelplanning #travelplantheeasyway #travelplanningmadeeasy #longtermtravel #worldtravel #firsttimetravel #firsttimetraveller #lastminutewanders
Long term travel planning doesn't have to be overw Long term travel planning doesn't have to be overwhelming! Follow me for expert tips and advice to get you travelling sooner 😎🌍
Don't forget to:
β™₯️ Double tap
πŸ’¬ Leave a comment
πŸ“€ Share with a friend
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πŸ’Œ DM me to chat!
#travelexpert #travelmentor #mindsetmentor #travelmindset #travelmotivation #mindsetmatters #travelplanning #travelplantheeasyway #travelplanningmadeeasy #longtermtravel #worldtravel #firsttimetravel #firsttimetraveller #lastminutewanders
Here's a quick summary of places I recommend in Ne Here's a quick summary of places I recommend in New Zealand!
Follow me for more 😎
Don't forget to:
β™₯️ Double tap
πŸ’¬ Leave a comment
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πŸ’Œ DM me to chat!
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