I could hear him talking, but my mind kept going elsewhere thanks to my intense jetlag. My eyelids felt heavy and locked shut like magnets; I had just arrived after 24 hours of long flights. Then something about a ozone hole rang through my brain and jolted my eyelids back open. Craig was telling me about why I needed to wear sunscreen in New Zealand, but the only thing on my mind was sleep, not sun. And all I really heard was “Blah, blah ozone. Blah sunscreen blah”
No matter how hard you fight it, jetlag eventually takes over and you can fall asleep in the middle of a completely normal conversation, like this one. The next day Lindsey and I took the ferry to Devonport, and before I knew it I was sunburned. Suddenly the warnings Craig was trying to give my jet-lagged mind were coming back to me…a few minutes too late.
This was the first lesson I learned about what should have been on my New Zealand packing list. Sunscreen was just one of items I should have packed when I came to New Zealand, but it wasn’t the last. Here’s the most important things you should include when planning and packing for a trip in New Zealand.
New Zealand Packing Essentials
1. Pack Sun Protection
No doubt within the first few days of being in NZ someone will tell you the tale of the missing Ozone layer. It might sound like a tall tale, however it’s true. There is a hole in the ozone layer around New Zealand. The thickness of the ozone layer is significant because ozone absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, acting as a filter against sunburn and other damage.
Sure, you can buy sunscreen in New Zealand like I did; however, it will cost you. I had to spend $20 NZ for a small little bottle. So save some money and bring stuff from home, and bring lots of it! It should be a minimum of SPF30.
Golden amber tint ensures you don't have a white pasty look of mineral sunscreen!
Reef safe, fragrance free, With all-natural, ingredients, and zinc oxide as the active ingredient, you can feel confident in your daily skin protection. Women owned.
2. Pack a Hat for New Zealand …or Two
Don’t forget sunglasses and a good hat for sun protection! I use and love Wallaroo Hats. They have SPF in their hats! In fact, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the material of every Wallaroo hat with a UPF rating and a 3+ inch brim as an effective UV protectant. Plus – they have tons of fashionable choices to choose from! My favorites for adventures is the Cabo because it has a chin strap.
I love all of their styles and normally always have at least 2 of their different hats with me on every trip I take! All of their styles offer superb sun protection. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the material of every Wallaroo hat with a UPF rating and a 3+ inch brim as an effective UV protectant. Plus - they have so many fashionable styles!
Use my Discount code, OTTSWORLD20, for an extra 20% regular priced items!
3. Be Prepared for Pesky Bugs – Lots of Them
Why do bugs love me so much?! There’s a lot of water in New Zealand; lakes, rivers, and oceans abound. And so do the bugs. Hence make sure bug spray is on your New Zealand packing list.
“New Zealand is the generous home to one of the nastiest, most incorrigible, maddeningly annoying bloodsucking insect pests that lives. Called sandflies in common practice and roughly resembling gnats, these vampires of the genus Austrosimulium live throughout the islands.”
Smithsonian Magazine
At Lake Rotaroa the sandflies swarmed me as soon as I got out of the vehicle! And I also had a gaggle of mosquitos (or mozzies as they are called in New Zealand) wage an attack on me at dinner one night in Nelson.
There are a bunch of remedies out there for pesky bugs ranging from the toxic to the bizarre, but I normally just stick to a spray with a high percentage of DEET and wear the right clothes (see below!) If you want you can also try natural remedies, garlic, and some even say Marmite also works (I’m not sure if you are to rub it on your skin or eat it…both are pretty gross!).
1.25 oz (Pack of 3 )
This is my preferred insect repellent. It does have 30% DEET in it so it's rather strong - but that's how I like my bug repellent!
Whatever your weapon of choice is, bring it from your home as bug spray is also very expensive to buy in New Zealand.
4. Bring Layers that are High Quality
I’ve been to New Zealand in the heart of summer (Dec/Jan) and in the Spring (Oct/Nov) – and both were still equally chilly! Go ahead and look at a globe; New Zealand is pretty far south, so it’s never going to be super hot. Cold fronts move in quickly, you have to be prepared for sudden changes in weather – especially if you are doing outdoor adventure travel in New Zealand like me!
Learn more about New Zealand Weather
Pack layers, the temperature changes rapidly from hour to hour. Once the sun goes down, even in the summer, you’ll want to be prepared with some warmer clothes. I always pack a tshirt or tank under-layer, a thermal pull-over, and a jacket with me at all times.
Layering System for Warmth, Wind, and Rain in New Zealand
This is my normal layering system for any kind of outdoor activities where the temperatures are volatile like in New Zealand!
- Krimson Klover Ava Seamless Legging - Indigo, S/Medium
- MARMOT Scree Pant Women's Black
- Krimson Klover Ava Seamless Base Layer Top - Black, S/Medium
- Marmot EVODry Torreys Jacket
- Fjallraven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie
- Ultra-Lightweight Liner Socks
- The North Face TKA Glacier Snap-Neck Pullover
- The North Face Freedom Insulated Snow Pants
Krimson Klover has my favorite base layers! Not only are they warm and comfortable, but they have cute designs. Designed in Boulder, CO. For women, by women.
I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
These make great winter hiking pants. They're heavier, with fleece pockets, stretchy, and great for snowshoeing. I consider them midlayer pants offering extreme water repellent, stretchiness, softness, and packability - Yay! I have multiple pairs!
I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
This seamless top is a perfect high-performance base layer for your winter adventures from sunrise to sunset!
I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Great for a wind and rain barrier as a top layer for your adventures. EVODry Torreys Jacket offers the weather protection you need for unpredictable days and the lightweight breathability you want in a high-performance shell. I always have it with me in my pack.
I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
A great top layer for winter months. Perfect for snow shoeing and winter travel. Plenty of pockets and a great hood with fleece lining that is soft on your face.
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A base layer for sock layering. WICK Dry technology quickly draws moisture away from your skin so your feet stay dry and comfortable. Removing the moisture build up reduces hot spots and friction that causes blisters
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The North Face TKA Glacier Snap-Neck pullover for women keeps you comfy and covered in lightweight, tone-on-tone recycled fleece.
I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
A great outer layer for extreme cold environments. Seam-sealed 2-layer DryVent™ fabric provides waterproof/breathable protection from the elements
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More of My Recommended Gear for New Zealand
Whatever you do, don’t get caught in the rain; pack rain gear! New Zealand is the type of country that you want to spend your time outside, and it’s also a country that gets quite a bit of rain. So make sure you are prepared – rain pants and jacket are really necessary items! Conditions vary from extremely wet on the West Coast of the South Island to almost semi-arid in Central Otago and subtropical in Northland.
See my Essential Hiking Gear List
See my Rain Gear Packing List
How to find Gear that Does it All for New Zealand!
Or you can tick all three of these things off by packing the right travel clothing! The Exoffico travel clothing line that I love has special Bugs Away clothing, Sun Guard Clothing with SPF 30+ in it already, and it great for warmth and layering! And bonus – they all dry super fast! Here are a few favorites of what included in our packing for New Zealand travels.
Finally, Pack an Adventurous Spirit for New Zealand
Don’t forget to pack a positive attitude and use the word “YES!” a lot! New Zealand is full of adventures and experiences if you are open to trying new things.
Disclosure:
Exofficio provided me some clothes to try out on this trip. However I’ve been an Exofficio wearer for a long time now and all of my opinions here are my own!
By Rob March 3, 2017 - 7:13 am
You’re lucky your sandfly bites were so minor. I apparently have an allergy to them, and two or three bites make my feet look like I have some sort of plague. It literally takes weeks before they stop itching, and longer before the skin completely recovers. It was the end of January before the bites I got at the beginning of December were completely gone.
By Sherry March 5, 2017 - 9:45 pm
Ugh – sounds miserable. Yes – we were pretty lucky during out time there – it was only bad for a couple of days.
By dan unger March 3, 2017 - 12:43 pm
Thanks for the tip on bugs. Remind me again b4 I go:)ox
By CurrencyKart March 6, 2017 - 4:43 pm
This article was very useful! Thanks for putting this together and sharing!
By Katie March 6, 2017 - 9:05 pm
I am always puzzled when people complain about the sandflies in New Zealand – maybe as a Kiwi they don’t like me or I don’t go to the places where they are the worst – but they are honestly not something I have come across much during the 23 years I have spent in New Zealand. I am from Auckland so maybe the South Island is worse? The one time I did have issues with them was hiking the Kepler Track. Most of the time I have spent in the South Island has been during colder months so that could be something to do with it too. Also what you said about the temperature doesn’t hold true so much anymore, the weather is still changeable but it gets so much hotter in summer now than it used to – it was about 30 degrees and so humid a couple of weeks ago in the upper North Island that it reminded me more of Queensland!
By Sherry March 7, 2017 - 9:28 am
The ones I encountered were in the south and I didn’t have as many problems in the North. They also tended to be around water/lakes. Yes – when I was up in the Bay of Islands it was hot and humid. However I do think most people go to the South Island when they visit and it’s much cooler there…not like a summer in the US typically so I just want to make sure that people don’t only pack shorts and tshirts! You have a lovely country!!
By Taj mahal tour by train March 7, 2017 - 12:59 am
Love your post! Glad to find your post. It is a great information for travelers. New Zealand is one of the best place to visit. I really like it. Thank you so much for sharing it.
By Leigh | Campfires & Concierges March 7, 2017 - 10:42 am
I just picked up a pair of the Zhana leggings in the Ex Officio sale this week! Looking forward to adding them to my hiking wardrobe 🙂
By Sherry March 10, 2017 - 10:55 am
Awesome! I have two pairs I’m embarrassed to admit!
By angelina March 7, 2017 - 11:16 pm
Great list pict! I’d love to take one of these road trips one day. Thanks for sharing
By Damas March 19, 2017 - 1:00 am
When mozzies attack, doesn’t it hurt? Nice picture bye the way.