Packing List for New Zealand: What to Wear & Pack

Kia ora. Are you planning a visit to New Zealand and unsure about what to bring on your trip? Don’t worry! You’ll find a comprehensive packing list for New Zealand right here. 

Aotearoa isn’t your typical holiday destination. It’s beautiful, wild, and unpredictable. It’s also diverse in terms of climate, terrain and landscape so it can be tricky knowing what to pack.

A trip to New Zealand can mean very different things depending on locations you plan on visiting, activities you plan on doing and time of year. 

» Planning a trip to New Zealand? You might also be interested in our 35 New Zealand Travel Tips: What to Know Before You Go and this guide to travel insurance for New Zealand.

New Zealand is known for having four seasons in one day, and that can be in just one location.

When I travel around New Zealand, I’m likely going to experience at least two different climates, and varied activities that take me from the beach to the trails, each requiring different gear. Once you have an idea of your itinerary, you’ll know what climates and activities to pack for. 

If your trip is focused around activities such as multi-day hikes or skiing/snowboarding, you can rent gear such as tents, hiking packs, sleeping bags or ski and snowboarding equipment in places like Queenstown.

If you are doing a guided hiking tour, it’s worth checking with the company you are going with because they may provide hiking gear as part of the package. 

Download Your Free New Zealand Packing List!

To make things easy, I’ve created this handy printable packing checklist so you can have it right in front of you as you pack and ensure you’ve got everything you need! Click here to save a PDF that you can print.

What to Wear in New Zealand

New Zealand is casual. Even the nicest restaurants in Auckland have a relaxed dress code. So you don’t need to worry about packing a dinner jacket or dress to go out in. A tidy top and jeans will be just fine. 

As a side note, I find New Zealand wears mostly neutral color clothing. I don’t often see bright colors or bold patterns. Not saying you can’t wear that, it’s always nice to see a pop of color, but if you prefer to blend in then solid neutral colors is the way to go. 

My best advice is to pack light and bring comfortable, practical and easy to wash items that you can layer as the temperature and weather changes. Even in summer it’s good to have a pair of jeans and a light jacket for the cooler evenings.

Be sure to break in any gear before you leave. I’ve tried breaking in new hiking boots on a tough New Zealand trail and it was not fun! 

What to Pack for New Zealand

Here’s a list of things to pack for New Zealand to use as a guide and modify it to fit you.

If you tend to feel the cold, pack an extra layer or two. If you plan on spending most of your days at the beach or on the hiking trails bring an extra bathing suit or an extra pair of thick socks. No one wants to put on a soggy bathing suit or wet socks the next day.

The number of clothing items you need depends on the duration of your trip.

For two weeks, I like to use the 1-2-3-4-5-6 method plus my outer layers as a general rule for essential clothing, then adding in items that I’ll need for specific activities or weather conditions.  

Packing Essentials

Suitcase (hard case roller suitcase) or Backpack: This is a personal preference and may depend how you’ll be traveling. If it’s cars and hotels a roller suitcase may be best, but if you’re traveling around on various methods of transport or road tripping around New Zealand then a pack may be easier.

Daypack: Essential for hiking and generally handy for days you’ll be out exploring. I always carry things like extra layers, snacks, water and my camera gear in a day pack.

Packing cubes: I traveled around the world for years without these babies and now I can’t live without them. I even bought them for my family and they are also hooked. Super handy for organizing your clothes in your suitcase and a convenient way to store belongings if you’ll be traveling in a campervan. 

Clothing Essentials

Sleepwear

There are no rules around pajamas. Just bring whatever is comfortable and easy to pack for the season you’ll be visiting.

Swimsuit / Coverup

You’ll need at least one swimsuit (called ‘togs’ in New Zealand) regardless of the time of year you’ll be traveling to New Zealand. In addition to fabulous beaches and lakes, New Zealand knows how to do hot pools. 

From the mud pools and geothermal waters of Rotorua to rustic wooden hot tubs filled with fresh alpine water and natural hot springs you can find in the forest, there are lots of different hot pools that are worth experiencing all year round. 

I recommend bringing an old swimsuit for the mud pools in Rotorua, they are never quite the same after. 

A coverup for walking to and from the beach or hot pools. A lightweight long sleeve option is good for both cooler weather and extra protection from the sun. 

Footwear

Barefoot is the footwear of choice for many Kiwis and something you’ll see all over New Zealand, even in the shops. Otherwise, as a minimum you’ll need:

Walking shoes/sneakers: Ideal for everyday wear, short walks and exploring towns.  

Flip flops: Known as jandals in New Zealand (or thongs in Australia). Great for the beach, hot pools and handy if you’ll be using shower blocks at holiday parks or campgrounds. 

Bottoms

Jeans: For day wear, going out to dinner and cooler evenings or rainy days in summer.

Leggings: For women, leggings are a great casual and comfortable option for day wear, easy walks, hikes, outdoor activities and for hanging around in campervans or holiday parks. I have a pair of fleece lined leggings that I take for winter travel which act as double duty for layering under hiking or snow pants when it’s really cold. 

Casual travel pants: A good pair of quick dry travel pants are so versatile for traveling in New Zealand, especially in wet weather. You can even get ones that turn into shorts. My go-to are the women’s Aphrodite 2.0 pants from The North Face. I wear them on the plane, in the outdoors, for hiking and on road trips. In winter, I layer them over a pair of thermals or my fleece leggings. 

Tops

Tops that can be layered are your best bet, especially if you plan on doing a lot of outdoor activities. Plus they take up less room in the suitcase than bulky sweaters and sweatshirts.

I recommend a mixture of tee shirts or tank tops for warmer days and thicker long sleeve tops for cooler weather. Merino wool is very popular in New Zealand because it’s moisture wicking and regulates temperature.

Cotton is ok for around town but takes ages to dry if it gets wet, plus it draws heat away from the body. Have you ever gotten sweaty and then really cold as the sweat dried but the top still felt damp. Yep, that’s cotton. As much as I love it and live in it for loungewear, sweat-wicking quick dry materials are best for the outdoors. 

Socks

If you plan on doing a bit of hiking, bring extra socks. As with tops, cotton is ok for around town but thermal or wool socks are best for hikes or if you tend to have cold feet. They come in different thickness for summer and winter, although I prefer to wear the thicker variety all year round to prevent blisters.

I also like to wear sports socks that have the extra padding around the heel and toe if I’ll be doing a lot of walking around during the day. 

Undergarments

Comfortable underwear and for women, 2 bras plus one sports bra. If you are not doing a lot of sweaty activities then you’ll probably be fine with one regular bra and one sports bra.

Warm Layers & Outerwear 

Light jacket or zip front hoodie for summer travel. 

Fleece jacket for spring, autumn and winter. 

Warm coat / puffer jacket for winter. I would also bring this for spring and autumn if you plan on hiking or traveling around the South Island. We did the 7am Doubtful Sound cruise in March and needed a thermal layer as well as a puffer jacket. 

A waterproof jacket is essential all year round. 

Additional Items Year Round

Quick dry towel: Lightweight and easy to carry in your day pack for impromptu dips in lakes and natural hot springs during your travels, or for places that don’t supply towels.  

Sunglasses: Self-explanatory and useful to have all year round. They not only protect your eyes from the sun and winter glare but are a good shield from the wind. 

Insect repellent: You may encounter sandflies in some parts of the country. A high deet insect repellent is the best defense along with long clothes. I usually hike in long pants in places like Milford Sound even during summer for this reason. 

Sun protection: The ozone layer is thin above New Zealand and I can’t stress enough how important it is to protect yourself from the sun. I like the zinc based sunscreen for my face because it doesn’t sting my eyes.

Water bottle: The water is safe to drink straight from the tap in New Zealand. A reusable water bottle is better for the environment and you’ll often find refilling stations around various cities and towns. 

Mini first aid kit: Include things like cleansing wipes, tweezers, mini scissors, band-aids (called plasters in New Zealand), aspirin, antiseptic cream, gauze pads, and any specific requirements such as antihistamine, EpiPen, inhaler, etc.

Extras for Summer 

Summer is the most popular time to travel around New Zealand. Here’s some extra things to pack to be prepared for fun activities on the water and days at the beach.

Water shoes/sandals: Great for kayaking, canyoning, etc.

Shorts: A pair of lightweight casual shorts for everyday wear and quick-dry nylon shorts for water activities.

Sun hat: Wide brim is best but a cap may be more practical for activities. 

Rash guard: A long sleeve rash vest or swim top with built in UV protection may be worth bringing if you plan on spending a lot time in the water during the summer months.

Extras for Winter

The winter climate can vary significantly depending on which part of New Zealand you’re in. Auckland has more rain and mild temperatures, whereas the alpine regions of the South Island and Central North Island can get very cold and may have snow fall. 

Here are some extra things to bring when visiting the colder climates of New Zealand in winter.  

Thermals: I always bring a thermal layer when I’m traveling during spring, fall and winter, especially if I plan on being in remote or alpine parts of the country such as Queenstown, Milford Sound or Mount Cook National Park. They are light and don’t take up a lot of space so it is better to have them. 

Beanie and gloves: Essential items to help retain the body heat when it’s cold. 

Insulated socks: Especially if you are prone to cold feet 

Scarf or neck Gaiter: These are also great if you’ll be jet boating in places like Queenstown or Te Anau. 

Warm boots: You won’t need boots for places like Auckland, but you may want them if you plan on spending time at the ski fields and alpine areas of the South Island during winter. 

Lotion & chapstick: High altitude and cold air can dry out skin and chap your lips quickly. No one enjoys having chapped lips. 

Extras for Hikers

New Zealand is home to some of the world’s best hiking trails and multi-day walks. They can be in remote areas and the temperature can vary throughout the year.

You should always take warm gear, plenty of water, extra snacks, rain gear and a first aid kit whenever you head out on a trail in New Zealand regardless of the season. 

Here are some extra things to pack for hiking in New Zealand.

Layers: We covered this above but be ready to change a few times throughout the day as the sun and temperature shifts. As a general rule you should have three layers on top, two on the bottom and take all layers with you, even if you don’t think you’ll need them. It’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.

A sweat wicking base layer, a middle layer such as a fleece for insulation plus an outer layer to shield you from wind, rain, and snow on top. For the bottom, breathable hiking pants over thermals or leggings.

In summer you might only be wearing a base layer and leggings but have the extra one or two layers with you. When we hiked Roy’s Peak in March (early autumn), I was hot wearing a tee shirt on the way up and layered up to a puffer jacket at the summit due to the drop in temperature plus wind factor.

Hiking boots: Non-leather is best because it dries faster. I also prefer ones with good ankle support because some trails can be rocky or have tree roots to navigate. Make sure they are clean when coming through customs.

Head torch: I always carry a good head torch when hiking. The sun can dip quickly in the mountains. Also handy for camping or using toilet blocks at night in holiday parks. 

Pack liner: Use a dry bag or plastic bag to line your backpack and keep your gear dry when hiking in the rain. 

Hiking poles: Not all trails require poles, I personally don’t use them, but if you plan on doing a lot of hiking you may want to bring them along.

Toiletries 

• Mini shampoo/conditioner/body wash/face wash
• Moisturizer with SPF
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Razor
• Hand sanitizer
• Bar soap or mini laundry powder for handwashing clothes
• Ziplock bags (always put things that leak in a ziplock bag inside my toiletry bag)
• Hair ties / hair brush
• Sanitary items – you can get these in New Zealand but it’s a good idea to bring some with you from home
• Earplugs – useful if you plan on staying in hostels, huts or campsites
• Prescription medications – be sure to read up on requirements for bringing medication into New Zealand.
• Q Tips 

Technology & Entertainment

Mobile phone: Even if you don’t get a sim card or use roaming, smartphones are useful for apps such as maps and currency conversion as well as keeping up to date on road conditions if you are road tripping. 

Headphones: Useful for the plane and listening to/watching entertainment in communal spaces.

Plug adapter: New Zealand uses Type 1 plugs and operates at 240v. If you are coming from countries such as the USA that operate on 110v then you’ll need a converter as well. Some phone and laptop chargers have dual voltage capability, just be sure to check that is the case before plugging it in or it could blow out your electronics.

eReader: Lightweight and good to have while traveling for avid readers.

Camera: Also make sure you have a spare battery and memory cards. 

Laptop: I would only bring this if it’s essential for you, otherwise it’s an extra thing to lug around and securely store when you’re away from it. 

Chargers: Don’t forget the charger for whatever electronics you’re taking!

Entertainment: Be sure to download some movies, podcasts or games for travel days or if the weather packs it in. 

Travel Essentials

• Passport (plus a copy stashed somewhere separate)
• Credit or travel card/s
• Driver’s license or international drivers permit if you plan on driving while in New Zealand
• A small wallet and crossbody bag for when you don’t need a day pack
• Pen

Final Thoughts

This New Zealand packing list makes it easy for you to pull out the suitcase and start packing the appropriate clothing and gear for whatever activities you plan on doing. Remember to pack light and aim for layers and comfort. I love the casual, no fuss style in New Zealand so don’t sweat it.

Plus, there are stores in New Zealand to pick up anything you forget. The Warehouse is our version of Walmart which has pretty much anything you need and is not too expensive. So print out that list and start rolling and folding!

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