What Should I Bring?
One of the things I loved about New Zealand was its laid back style. I vividly remember the first time I stepped out of my residence and walked in the beautiful domain park: people weren't even wearing shoes! I quickly adapted to this style and ditched my sneakers. I got a pretty bad sliver on my walk through the trail - know that you've been warned! If you go for a walk down Queen Street, in the centre of the city, you'll notice some very stylish people. Auckland is a city after all. There are many brand name clothing stores around there, as well as cute boutiques in the trendier districts, such as Parnell or Newmarket. Pretty much anything goes in Auckland! I tended to go for the outdoorsy or laid-back style. I spent a lot of my spare time tramping, walking, and kayaking, so my style tended to reflect my interests while abroad.
Our typical tramping attire: polypro pants,
shorts, hiking boots, and our massive packs!
When going in Auckland in the spring, or for anywhere in NZ for that matter, be prepared for any kind of weather. When the sun is out in November, it's hot. When it's raining, it can be pretty chilly. It can also snow at higher elevations, like at the peak of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing or on a winter climb up Mount Taranaki. Bring long sleeved shirts (synthetic or wool, to keep you warm), pants, warm socks and rain gear, as well as any summer clothes you hope to use when the sun does come out. And dress in layers if the weather looks iffy, so you can put on and take off clothes when needed. While in Auckland, a spring rainstorm would roll in out of nowhere and drench me to the bone in one minute, then the sun would come out shortly to blast me with heat and I would be steaming gently the next minute. Thank goodness for long- and short-sleeve Merino wool shirts (made in NZ, naturally), which are light and warm, and a good umbrella. My friends and I LIVED in Polypro long sleeve shirts and long underwear! We always said that our NZ uniform consisted of Polypro, warm socks, and Teva sandals... Very stylish!
If you plan on taking advantage of New Zealand's plethora of trails and outdoorsy activities, here's a complete and thorough list of what to bring! You can buy a lot of these items at stores such as Kathmandu in New Zealand, but it may be cheaper to buy them in your hometown.
- Backpack (Mountain Equipment Coop has great packs for travelling, along with other useful items!)Sleeping Bag
- Camera (This item is essential!)
- Hiking Shoes
- Insect repellent (non-aerosol), sunscreen and hat
- Flashlight and spare batteries
- Waterproof sandals/shoes (such as Tevas)
- Cold weather clothing such as Polypro
- Nalgene (or a refillable water bottle)
- Quick dry towel
- Toiletries
- Swimsuit
- Extra socks
- A journal to document all of your amazing adventures!
- Don't worry... you can purchase your school supplies in Auckland!