If you haven’t travelled long term before, packing can be a bit of a nightmare, especially if you’re heading down under for a whole year to work and travel and putting together your Australia packing list.
What do I take?
What do I leave behind?
I don’t have enough space for this!
will I need that!
I have no doubt all of these thoughts will be running through your head at one point or another during the packing process!
So to help you nail your Australia packing list here are the things I recommend you take to the land down under…
Australia Packing List – What You Need & What You Don’t
What You Think You Need – Half It!
In my experience less is more when it comes to travelling.
A well-used saying about packing is to lay out all your clothes and money on the bed – then take away half the clothes and double the money!
And it’s pretty true!
When I first went to Australia I took a 60+20L rucksack.
It was totally rammed and a nightmare to repack, let alone fit new stuff into! I barely used half the stuff in it, and by the time I’d left Australia 12 months later I’d given heaps of it away or donated it to charity shops.
So here’s what I’d suggest for your Australia packing list, or for any long term travels, really.
The stuff on the list might not seem like enough, but remember: if you REALLY need those extra few t-shirts, dresses or shoes you can always pick up some new stuff in Australia, and by then you’ll be more aware of how much spare space you have in your bag!
Clothing
Clothing is obviously the biggest item when it comes to your Australia packing list and will be what takes up the most amount of space too.
Keep it streamline, remember you don’t need pack for every occasion and you can always pick up items along the way too – especially as the seasons change…
- 7 x t-shirts
- 2 x boardies
- 2 x shorts
- 2 x flannel shirts
- 1 x jumper
- 7 x underwear
- 2 x socks
- 1 x flipflops (aka thongs!)
- 1 x closed shoes
- 1 x trousers
- Sunglasses
Yup, clothing wise I’ve packed pretty light, but remember it’s easier to do washing more often than it is to lug a huge backpack full of stuff around! From a guy’s — and many girls’ — perspective, this should be enough to tick over.
If you do want to pack extras, keep them aside and figure out if you have enough space after your preliminary pack.
Electronics
Like it or not technology is now part of the travelling adventure and I’ve no doubt you’ll all be taking some gadgets along for the ride. Again streamline it and if you’re buying new travel gear investing in tech that’s lightweight and compact is the way forward…
- Phone + charger
- Laptop + charger
- Camera + charger
- Memory card
- External hard drive
- Travel plug adaptor
Not everyone is going to have a laptop in tow, but I’d suggest taking a hard drive anyway so you can backup your photos along the way and also copy some movies and photos from your travel buddies!
Toiletries
These should be pretty simple…
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Nail clippers
- Paracetamol/ibuprofen/your painkiller of choice
- Bodywash (travel size)
- Towel (travel towels are a good start but you’ll probably buy a proper one
out there!)
…things like shampoo, conditioner and suncream can be bought easily at any supermarket in Australia, so there’s no point dragging it halfway across the world.
Of course, girls, you might have some extras in your makeup bag and what not, but these are the bare minimum essentials I’d recommend everyone pack.
Extras
If you find you have some spare space these are some other useful items I’d suggest packing. You could also buy them once you’re out in Oz.
- Snorkel and mask
- Multi-plug socket (so you only need one travel plug for multiple devices!)
- Basic first aid kit
What Backpack?
I’ve tested out a heap of backpacks over the last few years and there are a lot of great brands to choose from.
Currently though I’m using the Osprey Farpoint 40+10L and it’s the perfect balance of size, comfort and build.
Admittedly it’s not the cheapest option on the market, but if you’re looking to travel light and with a solid bag it’s a great investment for your travels.
Again the key point with your Australia packing list here is not to fill all the space simply because you have it!
Give yourself some extra empty space for picking things up along the way too – there’s nothing worse than realising you can’t buy that awesome keepsake because you simply dont have enough room!
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