Packing Tips for Travel to Australia

Sponsored by Sports Authority

Australia is most people’s dream destination, a “must-visit” on their ultimate bucket list, though with some of the most extreme and varied climates in the world, packing can be one of the most challenging parts of the trip!

For instance are you hitting the tropical rainforests of far North Queensland, the harsh landscape of the Outback, or the colder climates of Southern Tasmania?Are you planning a dive in the Great Barrier Reef, a climb of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, or some skiing in the Snowy Mountains?

When planning a trip to Australia you need to consider the weather and climate of the destinations you will be visiting, and the outdoor activities you plan on undertaking during your trip. You need to know if you plan on exploring only urban areas, or also plan on hitting up some more natural settings.

After you know your itinerary, this will determine your packing list for Australia.

So while there will never be one set list of things to pack, here are a few essentials which will guide you before making the trip Down Under.

Make Sure You Pack These

Clothing

• 1 rain jacket
• 1 warm jacket and/or 1 sweater (“jumper” as Australians call it)
• 2 pairs of jeans
• Shorts/skirts
• Casual shirts & T-Shirts
• Two outfits for evenings out
• A week worth of socks (make sure they’re breathable socks)
• Two weeks worth of underwear
• Pyjamas
• Colorful swimwear and towel

Remember that the Australian sun is very harsh, more so than what many may be used to in other countries.

Consider packing breathable clothing which will protect you from the sun, and wearing long clothes which cover your shoulders if spending multiple days on the beach.

Shoes

Pack good walking shoes, as there are always plenty of great opportunities to head out and explore a natural setting or national park. City walking tours are also incredibly popular throughout Australia, so you’ll want a good pair of shoes for exploring each new city.

Pack a pair of plastic thongs – that’s right, in Australia we call “flip-flops” thongs. These are not only required for the many beautiful beaches, but will also keep your feet clean if using hostel showers.

Hiking boots will come in handy if you will be spending an extended period of time bushwalking – Australia has some pretty spectacular hikes to choose from.

Toiletries

• Toiletry bag and contents
• 1 small bath towel
• Suntan lotion
• Insect repellent
• Aspirins/medications
• Handkerchiefs/tissue

Electronics

• Camera – consider traveling with a waterproof camera if diving, or a GoPro if your itinerary includes outdoor adventure
• Smartphone
• Chargers
• Travel Adapter

Miscellaneous

• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Fly net (if traveling through the outback)
• Day bag/backpack for exploring cities
• Water bottle
• Swiss Army Knife
• Small First Aid Kit
• Small portable torch/flashlight

Our Sports Authority Shopping Spree

It’s not often we head out on a shopping spree, however when we do it’s always before a big trip.

In preparing for our Australia trip, thanks to Sports Authority we managed to find essentials for all of our outdoor needs in one place, and walked away with some amazing products from The North Face, perfect for our return visit to Aus. Check out what we picked up!

The North Face Hiking Pack

Shopping for a new hiking pack.

The North Face Terra 45

Sold!

Australia is full of epic walking trails, many which can be completed in a day, many of which can be cut up into short scenic sections, and many of which can be stretched over weeks, or even months, if attempting the whole trail!

Hiking options are available all over the country to suit every fitness level, and every level of crazy! Unfortunately in the past I have been known to fall into the top tier of “crazy”, and have found myself stuck in the middle of nowhere attempting incredibly challenging terrain far too often!  As such, I’m always in need of a good quality hiking pack.

I chose the the North Face Terra 45  – it is a sleek, light, and easy to use, 45-liter pack with amazing padding and support meaning you can cover ground comfortably. The shoulder harness easily slides up or down according to user’s back length, and the hip-belt is totally padded for comfort, decked out with two easy to reach pockets for access to small essentials without needing to sit down and take off the whole pack.

The North Face Rain Jackets

It doesn’t matter whether you’re hitting up the tropical climates of Queensland, or heading further south to Tasmania. You will most definitely need a rain jacket for travel to Australia, where the locals will tell you “if you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes for it to change.”

With a fantastic range of water repelling mens rain jackets and also women’s rain jackets, both Mike and I are now set, with the added bonus that his triclimate jacket has an inside fleece which is removable should the weather become too warm.

Warm Jackets

Taking in Tasmania during this trip, a warm jacket is a must – and it doesn’t matter that it’s summer.

Hobart is notoriously chilly at the best of times, particularly in the evenings, and especially if you’re heading up Mt Wellington for the best views of the city, you need a backup to keep you warm against wind chill.

Even for those traveling through the Outback – do not overlook packing a warm jacket. While hot and often humid during the day, the outback cools right down once night falls, and if you’re camping you’re going to feel that chill.

If traveling during winter you’re going to want to pack more than one warm jacket, because despite popular belief, Australia can get COLD!

Meg Jerrard is an Australian Journalist who has been travelling and blogging around the world for the last 7 years to inspire others to embark on their own worldwide adventure!  Her husband Mike is an American travel photographer, and together they have made the world their home.

Follow their journey on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.