By Colin Mairs, Owner and Tour Guide at Mondumo Tours
Over the years, as a tour guide and avid traveller, I’ve learned that the lighter you pack, the better your trip goes — especially on our two-week adventures in Australia and New Zealand. Having guided countless travellers during my more than a decade long career as a professional tour guide (and having hauled my own luggage up plenty of hotel staircases), I’ve come to appreciate the golden rule of travel: you’ll never say, “I wish I’d brought more.”
Packing light gives you freedom. You’re less tired, you move faster through airports, and you don’t spend half your trip rummaging through a bloated suitcase. And if, like many of our guests, you enjoy Rick Steves’ travel philosophy, you’ll be glad to hear that we fully embrace that same pack-light-and-travel-better approach here at Mondumo.
Here’s how to pack light for two weeks in Australia and/or New Zealand in October — our springtime, when weather can be wonderfully varied.
1. Choose the Right Bag (and Commit to It)
My mentor Rick Steves famously recommends packing light with just a carry-on, and that’s great advice—especially for flexibility and ease of travel. Most U.S. airlines define carry-on limits by dimensions (typically 9″ × 14″ × 21″) and don’t specify a weight, as long as you can lift the bag into the overhead locker yourself. However, if you are flying with airlines like Air New Zealand, Qantas, or Fiji Airways—carry-on bags on economy fares have a strict limit of 15 lbs (7 kg), and could be weighed by airline staff at check-in or before boarding.
So, if your bag exceeds that limit and needs to be checked anyway, my belief is that you may as well bring a slightly larger checked bag instead of struggling to fit everything into a smaller carry-on. If you can survive with carry-on only more power to you, personally I like the extra wiggle room. A case with four spinner wheels is my go to, which makes moving it around feel like a joy. Backpack straps are a bonus.
Personally I usually prefer to wheel my case even if I have the option of backpack straps. My current favorite touring case is the Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner (12″ × 18.5″ × 27″).
Note that we also have internal flights included on both our Australia and New Zealand tours. For each of these flights the baggage allowance is: one checked case weighing up to 50 lbs (23
kg); one piece of hand luggage (e.g. a backpack) weighing up to 15 lbs (7 kg); and a small personal item (e.g. purse or laptop bag).
2. Master the Art of the 1-Week Wardrobe
Prepare mentally before you start to physically select what you are packing. Look yourself in the mirror and say: “I’m packing for 7 days, not 14”. Here’s a simple template that works for our tours:
- 3–4 short-sleeve shirts or polos
- 2 long-sleeve shirts (for layering or evenings)
- 1–2 pairs of trousers/pants (quick-dry or lightweight jeans)
- 1 pair of shorts or a light skirt
- 1 warm fleece or jumper (e.g. merino, which is warm and quick-drying) ● 1 rain jacket or compact windbreaker
- 5–7 pairs of underwear and socks
- Comfortable walking shoes (sturdy sneakers or trail shoes)
- Flip-flops or sandals (great for beach days or hotel rooms)
- Swimsuit (you never know — hot springs or beach stops await!)
For New Zealand especially, layers are key. October can bring sunshine, showers, wind and cool evenings — often all in one day. The kiwi band Crowded House have a song called Four Seasons in One Day which pretty much sums it up!
3. Dress Smart, Not Fancy
We love to introduce you to some of the great cuisine of Australia and New Zealand on our tours but nowhere we dine insists on a jacket or heels. A nicer shirt or blouse is enough if you want to dress up a bit for a winery lunch or dinner out. Otherwise, comfort rules the day — we walk a lot on our tours!
4. Plan to Do Laundry (Strategically)
A key part of the mentality of the 1-Week Wardrobe is doing laundry along the way. On our Mondumo tours, our guides help travellers identify good times and places to wash clothes. These can change readily so I won’t publish them here but your guides will share this at the welcome meeting. We stay most places for 2 nights, sometimes 3, so that gives a chance to wash a few essentials in your hotel sink if you so wish, otherwise laundry services are either available at the hotel or at a local laundromat nearby.
Here’s what I suggest:
- Pack travel detergent or a tiny bottle of liquid soap. Great for sink washing a few things in a pinch.
- Bring a universal sink stopper and a travel clothesline (or just some pegs).
- Choose quick-dry fabrics for shirts, socks and underwear (brands like REI, Patagonia, Columbia).
- And my top piece of advice on washing clothes whilst traveling: wash them when you can, not when you need to. If the opportunity arises a little earlier than you really need it to, just go for it. You never know what could arise between then and the next opportunity. (It’s the same advice for bathroom breaks on tour – go when you can not when you need to!)
5. Don’t Overpack Toiletries
Toiletries are easy to replace here if you forget something — New Zealand and Australian supermarkets carry everything you’d need. A simple zip-top toiletry bag with:
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, razor
- Sunscreen (a must — our sun is strong)
- Small hand sanitiser, painkillers
- Prescription medications (in original labelled packaging with your prescription or a doctor’s letter for clearing customs)
That’s all you need. All hotels have hairdryers, shampoo, conditioner and body wash. If you need to bring a specialist soap, transfer it to a smaller (tightly sealed) container. Please — no full-size shampoo bottles. They’re heavy and they leak.
6. Bring the Right Tech — and Nothing More
Your phone (with a good camera), phone charger, Type I plug adapter, and perhaps a small power bank (carried in hand luggage). That’s all.
Australia and New Zealand both use Type I plugs, with two flat angled pins and a grounding pin. That’s letter I (i), not number 1 (one). The voltage is 230V at 50Hz. Check the fine print on your plug to see if it has dual voltage. If it says 100–240V, 50/60Hz you’re good to go with just a Type I adapter. If not, you’ll also need a voltage converter to avoid frying your device.
Leave the laptop unless it’s essential. Australia and New Zealand have excellent Wi-Fi, but the best views won’t be on a screen — they’ll be outside. Your hotel room will have a TV, check out the local channels rather than binging Netflix for another taste of local culture.
7. A Few Extras Worth Their Weight
- Sunhat or cap – the UV rays here don’t mess around. A wide brimmed hat provides significantly more protection.
- Small daypack or tote for daily outings.
- Reusable water bottle – our tap water is safe and delicious and there are many public fountains to top up from. Cafes are also happy to oblige by filling your bottle.
- Half a dozen zip-top bags for organising small items.
- Printed copy of your passport and travel insurance just in case.
Trust the Process
Every time I guide a tour, I see people surprised by how little they need — and how much lighter they feel when they travel light. Our tours are built to be comfortable and well-paced. You don’t
need to prepare for every “what if” — our guides are here to support you on the road and we can point you in the right direction if there is anything you need..
So whether you’re dreaming of wandering through the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, sipping on Yarra Valley pinot noir, or having a yarn with some friendly locals, the best way to enjoy the journey is with a light bag and an open mind.
Want to travel to Australia or New Zealand with an expert local guide?
We’d love to show you around. Check out our 14-day tours at Mondumo.com and come explore with us.
Happy packing,
Colin
Photo Credit: Louisa Tipene Opetaia @kiwidiva
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