What to pack for New Zealand?

Last Updated: 10 Jun 2025
Publish Date: 27 Sep 2021

Tanya

Before you visit NZ, NZ Travel Info, NZ Travel Tips

Here’s a handy guide to help you pack everything you need for your New Zealand holiday, complete with travel tips and a downloadable packing list.

So you’ve finally booked that dream trip to New Zealand and now it’s time to start thinking about real preparations, like what to pack! You know that New Zealand is on the other side of the world, and you’ve heard a few different stories about the weather, so just what will you need to bring?

Kia Ora, we’re MoaTrek, we’ve been running small group tours to the very best spots in New Zealand since 1971 and over the years we’ve helped lots of travellers get ready for their trip of a lifetime!

We’ve put together this guide to help you prepare, including our recommended packing list for New Zealand and tips on what you should bring. We’ll cover what clothing and other essential items you need, what to expect from the weather and lots of travel tips to make sure you’ve got everything you need.

What to pack depends on what kind of trip you’re planning

Working out what to pack for your New Zealand trip depends on what kind of trip you’re planning and when you’re coming.

If you’re coming in the middle of winter for a skiing holiday, what you need is very different for someone coming during our summer (December to March) for a relaxing tour with lots of short walks, day cruises and winery lunches.

In this article, we’ll focus on what to pack for New Zealand in summer, spring and autumn, the warmer months (September – April) of the year we don’t expect to see snow.

We’ll cover what you need to bring for an active trip including day hikes, city walks and activities like jet boating or winery visits. The kind of trip active 50+ travellers on our New Zealand small group tours enjoy.

What’s the weather like in New Zealand?

Everything you’ve heard about the weather in New Zealand is true, it can change very quickly and do anything at any time of the year.

Here’s an example, we’re writing this post in early February, the middle of our summer, a great time of year to travel.

Last weekend in Queenstown and Wanaka the temperature was up to around 35 degrees centigrade (95 F), for New Zealand that’s really hot and the whole country was sweltering in a heatwave. Then last night we had a southerly change (cold winds come from the South here) and it was down to 6 degrees centigrade (42 F) overnight!

So, the key is to be prepared, even if you’re coming in summer, bring layers and warm clothing, you won’t regret it.

The sun in New Zealand is strong – cover up!

You’ll hear this often in New Zealand, and it’s important to heed the warnings and prepare properly.

While the ozone hole itself is mostly centered over Antarctica, ozone levels over New Zealand can still be lower than in many other parts of the world – especially during the spring.

Combined with New Zealand’s clear skies and its position closer to the sun during summer, this results in stronger sun than in other parts of the world. You can get sunburnt much quicker than you might back home, so you really need to take care.

If you’re sensitive to sunburn, bring light long sleeved shirts, a wide brim hat, long trousers and sunscreen with you to wear.

You’ll be more comfortable with clothing you know and are used to (or at least have selected especially for this trip) and will start enjoying your trip from the moment you land if you don’t have to go shopping for your sun protection.

Organize your clothing in layers

If you organise your clothing in layers then you can layer up or down easily at any time of the day which makes travelling much more comfortable.

Here’s an example of how to think about your clothing in layers:

Base Layer: A short-sleeved, breathable T-shirt, good for warm weather.
Mid Layer: A long-sleeved shirt or blouse, easy to wear over the base layer.
Top Layer: A fleece or shell that slips nicely over the top of this ensemble.
Outer Layer: A waterproof jacket.

If you think about your clothing like this you’ll be ready for anything the New Zealand weather throws at you. Being ready with your layers means you can handle any unexpected weather changes, if it suddenly gets hot or cold you just add or take off a layer in seconds.

Organizing your clothing to work in layers will help you select clothes that work with others, in terms of colours, fits and styles.

You can get really clever and create lots of different combinations from just three T-shirts, two long sleeved shirts and one or two shell or fleece sweatshirts.

The great thing about lightweight travel clothing these days is that it’s possible to pack light and be protected from the elements while looking great at the same time.

Before you leave home take a little time to plan out your layers, you’ll be glad you did!

MoaTrek Travel Tip – Get some Merino wool

We love merino wool when we travel. It’s light, breathable, feels great to wear and can last a few days between washes. It’s much better for travelling than cotton or other synthetic fabrics.

Merino clothing is very popular in New Zealand and there are lots of cool Kiwi designs you can pick up as a momento of your trip.

Which shoes should I pack for New Zealand?

Bringing the right footwear with you is very important and will play a big part in how much you enjoy your trip.

The last thing you want to be dealing with during your precious vacation time is breaking in new shoes or dealing with blisters. You want shoes you know are comfortable and won’t give you problems.

Because your shoes are so important we recommend bringing at least one pair you are used to and know don’t give you problems.

We’ll include footwear in the packing list below, but we recommend one pair of covered active shoes, one pair of open sandals or flip flops and possibly another tidier pair for going out for dinner.

MoaTrek Travel Tip – Wear your heavy shoes on the plane!

To make the most of your baggage allowance, consider wearing your heaviest footwear (like your walking shoes or boots) on the plane, and packing lighter shoes or sandals in your carry-on.

It’s a simple way to stay within airline weight limits while still bringing everything you need for your adventure.

What’s the dress code in New Zealand?

People often ask us if they need to bring a dinner jacket or semi-formal clothing for dining out in restaurants. The short answer is no.

New Zealand is casual and relaxed, even in top restaurants “smart casual” attire is perfectly appropriate. For men, this might mean long trousers, a collared shirt, and covered shoes. For women, options like a summer dress, trousers or a skirt with a blouse, are all suitable.

If you like dressing up for dinner then by all means please do, but in most popular restaurants in places like Queenstown, Rotorua, Christchurch and Wellington most people will be more casual.

Recommended Packing list for your New Zealand Trip

Here’s what we recommend you pack for New Zealand, for travellers visiting during the spring, summer and autumn months from September to April. Included on our packing list is everything you’ll need for an active trip, with lots of walking, exploring and activities.

Download our Recommended Packing List for New Zealand.

This is a guideline to help you get started, use your own judgement and draw on your own travel experience.

If you have any questions about what to pack for your tour, get in touch with one of our friendly team now and we’ll be happy to help.

MoaTrek Travel Tip – Go through your luggage before you leave home

Lay everything that you want to take on your trip out on the bed or floor in a spare room. Now go through each item one by one and ask yourself, do I really need this? You’ll probably find yourself answering no to a few items so be brave and leave them at home!

Pack light for your trip

Especially if you’re going to be travelling for a while, keep it light!

One thing we always hear from travellers is how their luggage seems to get heavier over the course of the tour! So here are some tips to help you pack light:

Leave some extra space in your luggage at the start of your trip to make room for souvenirs or new purchases.
If you’ve bought a few things and your luggage is getting full, consider sending non fragile items home to lighten your load.
Avoid overpacking by limiting books – bring a light paperback or, even better, an e-reader.

Important for MoaTrek travellers:

On our tours we have a luggage weight limit of 23 kgs (51 pounds) for your suitcase or travel bag. For our Kiwi Guides’ health and safety, plus vehicle weight laws here in New Zealand it’s important we adhere to this.

Your day pack must be the soft type, the hard little suitcases won’t fit in the storage on our coaches.

What NOT to pack for New Zealand?

We’ve covered a lot about what you need to bring, but how about some things to leave at home. So here goes:

Any fresh food or prohibited items. There’s more information on this below, but it’s important that you don’t have any fresh food with you when you enter New Zealand.
A big umbrella. If you’ve got a small compact one that folds up nicely then that’s OK but even a mid-sized umbrella is just a pain to travel with.
Formal attire. High heels, evening gowns, dinner jackets, ties – casual comfort is the way to go.
Hair Dryer. If you’re on one of our tours, everywhere we stay has hair dryers available for you.
A cotton towel. All the hotels you stay in on tours provide towels, so you don’t need one. A quick-dry towel is good if you go swimming, but not a big cotton one.

For more information about things you shouldn’t, or absolutely cannot, bring into New Zealand take a look at this handy page on the New Zealand customs website.

What can I pack in my carry-on luggage?

What are the most recent rules about LAGs (Liquids, Aerosols, Gels or Pastes)? Here’s a quick summary, but make sure you check with your airline before you travel.

LAGs (Liquids, Aerosols, Gels, and Pastes) must be in containers of 100 ml (3.4 oz) or less in order to be carried in your hand luggage.
Place all LAGs in a small, clear, resealable bag and separate them during security screening.
Larger containers must go in your checked luggage.
Prepare your LAGs before leaving home to avoid delays, repacking, or having to throw items away.
Pack any essential medications or in-flight needs following these guidelines.

If you’re flying Air New Zealand, here’s a full list of what you can and can’t bring in your carry-on luggage.

Be sure to check what you can and can’t bring in your carry-on luggage with your chosen airline.

Don’t bring any fresh food and declare all your food upon arrival

This is important but often overlooked by travellers. Customs in New Zealand is very strict and if you have any fresh food on you (like fruit) you will be fined at the airport! You must declare all food.

This is enforced very strictly and it’s not the nicest way to start your holiday, welcome to New Zealand and by the way, that apple you just took from the airplane will cost you $400!

Important – You are allowed to bring food, but only certain kinds. To be safe, declare everything you have and double check your carry-on bag before you reach customs.

Here’s a list of what foods you are allowed to bring into New Zealand.

Packing tips for your New Zealand trip

Bring lightweight, quick-dry clothing

Modern travel clothing is quick-dry, lightweight and looks great and we recommend bringing as many lightweight items as you can. They pack well, are light to carry, and dry quickly, they’re ideal for travelling.

Choose the right bag

Match your bag to your trip – If you’re hiking the Milford Track you’ll need a large backpack, but if you’re joining one of our tours, a mid-sized wheeled suitcase or travel bag is perfect.
Don’t forget a daypack – Ideal for daily essentials when your main luggage isn’t accessible; it doubles as your carry-on for the flight so make sure it fits in the overhead luggage lockers.
Go lightweight but protective – Modern travel bags offer great protection without adding unnecessary weight.

Use packing cubes

Packing cubes are small, zipped bags that help organize your clothes inside your suitcase.
Use them to group similar items (like socks or underwear) so you can easily find what you need.
They’re especially useful for short stays, making packing and unpacking quicker and tidier.
Bring an empty cube or bag to keep dirty laundry separate from clean clothes.
Most 3-to-4-star hotels in New Zealand, including where we stay on our tours, have on-site laundry facilities, making it easy to stay fresh on the road.

Pack a couple of dry bags

Most outdoor stores in your area will sell dry bags in all sizes. These are handy to have while you travel for spare clothes or keeping phones and cameras dry.

Make copies of your passport and travel documents

Make sure you have a copy of your passport number and details, and any other important documents like travel insurance policies and flight schedules & tickets. Give a copy to a family member or friend at home, just in case.

Bring medication and prescriptions

Pack enough medication to last your whole trip and bring recent copies of any prescriptions to help you get more here if you need to.

Travelling from the USA? Get a TSA approved suitcase

Everyone knows how tight border security is these days, and if you’ve ever had the inconvenience of having your luggage opened upon entry into the USA, you’ll know what a hassle it is.

Many major luggage manufacturers now make “TSA Approved” luggage which the TSA can access with their own keys if they need to check.

No one likes the thought of strangers going through your luggage but if they decide they need to, they will, so at least by having a TSA Approved suitcase you’ll minimize the damage and mess.

Can I use my appliances and devices in New Zealand?

Most modern electronic devices can be used in New Zealand, as long as they’ve been designed for dual voltage (from 110-240 volts). If you’re travelling from the USA, Canada or the UK you’ll also need a power adaptor.

MoaTrek Travel Tip – Practice packing your bag

A week before you leave, pack everything into your suitcase and what you are planning to carry on the plane in your day pack for a practice run.

You should be 100% self-sufficient and be able to walk and negotiate airports pulling your suitcase and carrying your day bag. If you can’t you need to re pack. Better to find this out at home than at the airport when you’re trying to check into your flight!

Travelling New Zealand with MoaTrek

We hope you’ve found this useful, the MoaTrek guide on what to pack for your New Zealand trip.

Taking the time to get what you need and packing it all correctly will make everything much easier when you arrive, leaving you to enjoy all the exciting new places and experiences New Zealand has to offer.

Our travellers always tell us that one of the best things about travelling New Zealand on our tours is being able to ask us any questions before they leave home. We love hearing from people before they come to visit us and are happy to answer any questions and share tips to help you get ready for your dream trip to New Zealand.

Find out more about our New Zealand small group tours here, or for any questions about packing or what to bring, drop us a line, we’d love to help.

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