A year long stay and luggage storage

Most luggage storage places have time limits but 4 months is probably outside their limits and not to mention that it would probably be very costly if you found a luggage storage place that would keep your bags for 4 months. What about a self-storage place? There is this one in Paris https://www.shurgard.fr/garde-meuble/paris and I know that there is a similar place in Frankfurt. I suggest picking the city that you plan to depart from to go to Australia and then ask if it has self-storage locations. I don't think that you want to travel to some random place just to store your luggage, right?
I know you did not ask about the visa stuff but . . . . Are you sure that you can do what you describe from a visa perspective? I ask because I recall reading an article about doing what you describe and how the days are counted. My eyes glazed over as I read the article so I stopped reading because it would have no impact on my life but from what little I read and recall, I wonder if your plan will work. Also, don't you mean March is when you will have maxed out on your first 90 days (note 90 days and not 3 months)? And really, you should leave a day or more before the last day.

I believe you are well aware of the Schengen rules, but since you once referred to "3 months" in your post, I want to be absolutely sure you realize the limit is 90 days rather than 3 months, and that both your arrival day and your departure day count.

As for luggage storage, you may have luck by Googling luggage strorage Paris, or whatever city you're interested in. There is at least one newish company that is identifying small shops, etc., that are willing to provide storage for travelers' bags, but that sort of informal arrangement is definitely not what I'd be looking for if I needed to store things for months. Heck, that little shop holding your bag might go out of business while you're in Australia! With luck you'll find a business dedicated to luggage storage and be able to work out some sort of long-term rate. I'm pretty sure a daily rate would be far more expensive than just discarding the clothes and buying new ones.

Are you sure you will have a lot of things that can't be used in Australia at least? I wear some long-sleeved shirts, usually cotton, even in mid-summer in Europe. It keeps my dermatologist happy.

Thanks for the replies.
Yes I am familiar with the schgen stay.
I wanted to stay a full year there but know we can't.
Yes 90 days not 3months.
I took some advice and will look into a self storage near CDG.
It looks reasonable and better than shipping it back an forth.
I can get away with wearing a long sleeve shirt during the summer, red hair and fare skin, already do.
We are staying in a lot of airbags so most of my items are cooking stuff and some summer cloths.
My wife can't wear hot cloths during the summer.
Thanks again for the info.

Okay, but 90 days ends in March, not April if you arrive on December 15th. Just making sure that the April in your initial post is a typo as opposed to your planned date.

It sounds like you are trying to avoid summer anywhere with your planned schedule. Before you leave those summer clothes in Europe, check out the weather link below. Some Australian cities are not very cool in Autumn, especially assuming that you will be going in March.

Below is a quote from Weather in Australia. Click on the link to find how the weather varies among the cities in each season. The wide variety of temperatures and rainfall is striking.

"Australia's seasons are at opposite times to those in the northern hemisphere. December to February is summer; March to May is autumn; June to August is winter; and September to November is spring."

Beyond that, it appears that a US citizen needs an ETA in addition to their passport. Click on Australia International Travel Information at the US Department of State for the details. It looks like you have a 90 day limit in Australia, too. Scroll down the page to Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements to learn all about that.

I didn't research New Zealand. You can Google the weather and travel requirements for NZ yourself.

Actually March 13th would be the 90th day. See handy app for counting days:
https://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html Remember to set it to count both the first and last days.

I'm puzzled though, if you will be in Europe from December 15th-March 13th, why would you have any summer clothes in Europe to store?

I assume because they’re going back to Europe in August and it will be hot.

I think JHK’s (brilliant) suggestion for self-storage is the answer.

There are self storage units in many places in Europe. Which country will be your exit and entry point from Europe?

Okay guys my itenery is we leave for europe on the QM2 on December 8 arrive in europe on December 15.
I have to go to Calais to pick up a left hand driving car.
I will enter France on the 15 and leave on the 16 two days of my 90 day stay and the start of my 180 day .
I will be staying in England until january 15th then head to Amsterdam on the 15.
I still have 88 days on my 90 day length. I will be leaving on my 88 day from Charles degaule and come back in August, well after my 180 total time.
I thank you all for concern on my length of stay heck I just found out about the schgen a couple of weeks ago, I had planned being in schgen countries for almost 6 months before I found out.
I still need to book my airline tickets but I will make sure I don't over stay.
Yes I have downloaded average highs and lows for Australia and New Zealand.
We will spend April to May in the lower island and May to June on the upper island.
Then June to August in Australia.
Then back to europe in the upper regions, germany, northern France then down to Greece in October heading back home in November.
Thanks again for all the input and any more suggestions are welcome.

Good that you learned about Schengen rules prior to all your bookings, but I think others need to remember that not all of Europe is in Schengen zone and that staying until mid April is feasible. As a note, Europe has 50 countries and only 26 are in Schengen. I am sure warnings are just being considerate, but with some imagination, and ensuring one can travel between non-Schengen while avoiding Schengen ones, one could most likely expand those months in Europe if one is inclined to.

Don't forget 2020 is a leap year, so there are 29 days in February.

I recommend that you not push the flight out of France all the way to the 90th day. Things sometimes happen--like flight cancellations dues to weather, strikes, or mechanical issues. One year I got sick and barely made it out of the Schengen Zone on time. At this point I always plan to leave by Day 88. There are no guarantees even with two extra days, but I figure it shows a good-faith intent to stay within the rules.

This sounds like a great adventure.