Hello. I am planning a 5 to 6 week trip to New Zealand in the shoulder season October to November. I tend to overpack. I would love recommendations on what I should bring and how much. I will need layers and I am a plus size person so my clothes take up more room. My carry-on will be a camera bag so everything has to fit in my suitcase that is checked. I will mostly be hiking and doing photography, not really into the fancy things or nightlife. I would love to hear some recommendations. thanks in advance.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
7793 posts
Layers will be needed for sure. There can be a definite difference in the weather between the top of the north island and the lower areas of the south island. But I doubt you would find many days over 20 (C), with daytime highs in the teens and night time lows in the single digits. You'll also want a waterproof jacket and good socks, preferably wool. Make sure your hiking boots or shoes are well broken in. If you are planning on bringing your own hiking poles,(vs buying or renting them there) make sure you are familiar with TSA rules.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
767 posts
Everything in NZ is very casual. So no reason to dress up for dinner. And be sure you know the NZ entry rules that your shoes and poles be very clean.
Posted by
Bristol, UK
2250 posts
Definitely waterproofs and good outdoor gear generally like fleeces, base layers and so on. They sell a lot of merino base layers there and it is very popular. Everything worth doing in NZ is outdoors. You don’t really need any other types of clothing to be honest.
Posted by
Victoria
50 posts
So what areas of NZ are you planning on visiting and what hikes are you planning to do?
5 to 6 weeks gives you a good chance to see a decent chunk of both islands.
Without knowing your plans I will guess you will visit Fiordland (Milford Sound/Doubtful Sound etc). Weather in Te Anau in Oct/Nov. is typically lows of 3 to 7° C and highs of 12 to 18° C. On average it rains several days per week. If you are doing one of the Fiord cruises be prepared for cold breezy and possibly wet conditions. Milford is at it's best after good rain gets the falls flowing. Of course it could be bright and sunny.
At the other end of the country is the Bay of Islands. Weather in Paihia in Oct/Nov. is typically lows of 10 to 13° C and highs of 16 to 22° C. Usually plenty of sunshine and not too much rain.
So you may need clothing for a wide range of weather conditions.
Unless you are planning on hiking higher Alpine trails you are unlikely to encounter much snow.
You may however encounter sandflies in certain areas, no need to bring repellent easy to find in NZ shops. Also no need to pack sunscreen just buy some once there.
Strict biosecurity so no dirty shoes or hiking boots and avoid farms etc if possible in the weeks before flying in. Many hikes require you to spray shoes and scrub (on a roller brush) before starting out.
It is truly a magnificent place so enjoy.
Posted by
7 posts
nettskee11, for five or six weeks the space saver is packing for about a week and doing laundry, not packing for the whole trip. Towns of any size have a laundromat, and a lot of motels and holiday parks have a washer. One laundry stop every five to seven days lets you cut the clothing pile roughly in half, which matters when each piece takes more room.
What I would actually put in the checked bag: two quick-dry hiking pants (skip jeans), one lighter pair for town, about four tops you can layer, one fleece or light puffy, a real rain shell plus rain pants, and five or six pairs of wool or synthetic socks and underwear. Fiordland and the West Coast can be wet in October even when the north is milder. Broken-in waterproof hiking shoes, plus one lighter pair for evenings so the boots are not your only shoes. A small dry bag for the camera when you are out in drizzle.
Because the camera bag is your only carry-on, put one full change of clothes, any prescriptions, and a phone charger in it. If the checked bag is delayed a day you are not stuck.
Leave the extra toiletries at home. Pharmacies in Auckland or Christchurch cover what you forgot, and merino base layers are easy to buy there if the forecast says you want one more. Biosecurity looks at boots, so pack them clean of dirt and seeds. A compact clothesline is worth more than a sixth shirt.