THE ULTIMATE
NEW ZEALAND ADVENTURE
PACKING LIST
Use our ultimate New Zealand Packing List as a guide for what to bring along while you’re exploring New Zealand. We’ve packed this New Zealand Packing List with our trail tested favorites and recommendations, plus lots of useful info on the best gear for adventuring in all of New Zealand’s conditions.
Our biggest piece of advice is to pack light and smart, and bring durable, multi use items that you can layer as temperatures and weather changes (because they will)! Test and break in all your gear beforehand and use common sense and your own best judgement and discretion when choosing exactly what you pack. After all, no one knows you better than you! If you tend to run cold, pack an extra layer or two. If you have a finicky stomach, bring extras of your go-to snacks.
We’re firm believers that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate gear! Stocking up on quality gear from brands who are doing it right will make all the difference for enjoying all your adventures in the great outdoors!
THE ULTIMATE
NEW ZEALAND ADVENTURE
PACKING LIST
UP TOP
HATS
Bring something light with a brim for sunny days, and a warm beanie that will cover your ears for colder days.
2 PAIRS OF GLOVES
Bring one heavy, insulated warm pair for the colder nights, and one fleece or wool pair.
3-4 MOISTURE WICKING TOPS
Bring a few lightweight tops, so you can layer and re-wear them. Pack a mixture of tanks, short, and long sleeve options. Pro tip: look for wool and/or synthetic garments that, unlike cotton, wick away moisture.
Light wool sweater or fleece
Something you can easily take on and off as your temperature and the conditions around you change. Here are some fleeces, down jackets, and vests that you can easily layer on and pack up.
WAteRPROOF OUTER LAYER JACKET
A breathable, unpadded, waterproof and windproof jacket with a hood that will keep you dry and active on rainy days. We love this one from Outdoor Research! NOTE: Ponchos aren’t suitable.
DOWN LOW
1 PAIR OF HIKING BOOTS
The most important thing you’ll bring! Make sure they are Gore-Tex, have ankle support, and that you’ve broken them in nice and good. Brands we love: LOWA, Salomon, Merrell, Asolo. NOTE: New Zealand customs are very strict so make sure your boots are clean, dry and packed at the top of your luggage, ready for inspection on arrival into New Zealand.
1 PAIR RUNNING SHOES
For cycling, casual wear, and to wear when your boots are wet! We recommend trail runners, like HOKA Speedgoats
LIGHT SANDALS
Or something similar. You’ll need these for sea kayaking, the bus, and to wear in the huts at night. We like Keene sandals and TEVAs.
2-3 HIKING BOTTOMS
You’ll want pants for cooler nights, higher elevations and insect protection. Choose hiking pants or leggings made from strong and light materials that dry quickly - and preferably that are wind and water resistant.
WIND + WATERPROOF PANT
A non-insulated, outer layer pant is a must-have to layer on over your base layers when it’s rainy or windy. REI makes an affordable and high quality pair.
ALL ABOUT THAT BASE
THERMAL BASE LAYER
A thin, snug fitting top and bottom set that you can wear underneath everything at higher altitudes. These will regulate your body temperature by wicking sweat away from your skin. We recommend a sport synthetic fabric like polyester or merino wool. We love these Smartwool tops and bottoms.
3-4 PAIRS HIKING SOCKS
Bring durable wool socks in a few different weights - lighter for warmer days, and heavier ones for the nights and colder days. A couple pairs of liner socks are great to help prevent blisters too! We love Darn Tough’s Hiker Boot Sock in Full Cushion.
2-3 SPORTS BRAS
Bring bras that provide support, feel comfortable against your skin, dry quickly and don't bind, smoosh or chafe.
UNDERWEAR
Bring as many pairs as you know you’ll want! Check out REI’s Merino Hipster Underwear which are comfy and great for adventuring!
GET YOUR ARSE IN GEAR
DAYPACK
You’ll need a lightweight hiking backpack to wear on the hikes and to carry your water, extra layers, snacks, etc. Something around 30 L should work perfectly. We recommend getting one compatible with a water bladder and hose. While some packs come with a pack cover in case of rain, not all of them do, so make sure you get a rain cover. Brands we love: Deuter, Osprey, Gregory.
Pro Tip: Bring a fanny pack to keep snacks, your phone, and sunscreen in for easy access.
WATER BOTTLE + BLADDER
Staying hydrated is so important when you’re adventuring! Bring a 1L wide mouth Nalgene. While not necessary, we also recommend getting a 3 L water bladder. It’s the easiest way to carry and drink water while trekking.
TREKKING POLES
These are MANDATORY, and a life (and knee) saver on tricky terrain. Make sure they are collapsible, for easy stashing, and simple to adjust for up and downhill. Check out our favs at Leki.
BONUS: You get 15% off Leki poles for being a part of the WHOA family! Just use this special link to see our fav poles and save!
FOUR SEASON SLEEPING BAG
We recommend a zero degree Fahrenheit bag like the Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass. Thermarest sleeping mats are provided free of charge to everyone on our treks!
SLEEPING BAG LINER
This will add an extra layer of warmth at night. We recommend SeaToSummit!
LARGE TREKKING BACK-PACK
Should be at least 60 L, with well-fitting shoulder and waist straps. We recommend the Gregory Deva or something similar. Plus, it can also double as your main piece of luggage!
BUFF OR BANDANA
An all around great item to always have with you! You can use it as a neck gaiter, head band, sweat rag, etc. Plus, there are so many different fun designs to choose from! For winter, bring a balaclava too.
HEADLAMP
Important for when the sun sets at camp. Start the trek with fresh batteries, and bring a spare set just in case. We love Black Diamond.
POLARIZED SUNGLASSES
You have to protect your eyes from the sun! Make sure they are UV-blocking and polarized. Goodr makes ones that are good (and cute) for hiking. And don’t forget your retainer strap so they don’t fall off!
SWIMSUIT
For kayaking, and any spontaneous swimming opportunities!
CAMERA + EXTRA BATTERIES
There are so many amazing photo ops! We highly recommend bringing a camera that is compact and durable. These days most smartphones have great cameras, and we’ve found DSLRs can be cumbersome while trekking, so think twice before bringing anything too fancy. Remember to always pack your electronics in waterproof bags or cases.
portable battery charger
Whatever electronics you choose to bring, make sure you have a way to recharge your batteries. We always have a portable battery charger on hand so our camera is charged and ready to catch any spontaneous dance parties that may break out!
ALL THE SMALL THINGS
MEDS
Common medications you might want to bring along include, pain relievers, anti-histamines, antidiarrheals, etc.
MONEY
New Zealand Dollars and credit/debit cards
PASSPORT
Bring a waterproof bag to keep it safe and dry. Also, it’s always a good idea to travel with an extra photocopy of it.
Travel Insurance
Travel doesn't always go as planned! That's part of the adventure, and it's also the reason we require all of our adventurers to have a travel insurance plan that includes medical coverage and emergency medical evacuation. We HIGHLY recommend purchasing a travel insurance plan ASAP to cover you financially with any costs that can come up like trip interruption or cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances. The IMG LX plan is one option that offers excellent medical and evacuation coverage, has no altitude restrictions, and offers cancel for any reason but do your research before purchasing a plan to make sure it works for you and your situation!
DRY BAGS
When preparing your gear, pack everything in dry bags (or silicone bags for smaller items), we’ll be in the elements so we want to make sure our gear is always protected! We recommend bringing along different shapes and sizes of these to help organize and separate dirty clothing and gear.
For waterproofing your phone/passport/money, we recommend using a dry pouch.
SHOPPING BAG + PAPER BAGS
Having a stash of brown paper lunch bags, sanitary bags, or any form of biodegradable bag is great for collecting and carrying out trash on the trails and when we’re on the go. You’ll also want to bring a small reusable shopping bag to eliminate the need to use a single-use plastic bag for snacks or souvenir stops. They’re also handy to have in case you need another bag to take on the plane. Just another way to make Mother Earth proud!
FIRST AID
We’ll have all this stuff on hand, but make sure you have a compact kit with Neosporin, bug spray, band-aids, moleskin, duct tape, anti-septic, etc. We like this one because it’s lightweight, waterproof, and has everything you might need.
SUNSCREEN + INSECT REPELLENT
Maximum SPF UVA/UVB broad spectrum sunscreen is recommended all year in New Zealand. If you’d like to bring your own we like Raw Elements Natural Sunscreen and Picaridin from Sawyer Products. We highly recommend bringing lip screen as well!
TOILETRIES
Don’t forget the essentials like deodorant, lotion, lip balm, hair ties, hair brush, face wipes, tampons, contact solution, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, masks, and ear plugs etc. Remember our pledge to keep single use plastics out of the places we love and aim to use reusable bottles, bar soaps and biodegradable products!
QUICK DRY TOWEL + WET WIPES
Don't forget about the environment and make sure your wet wipes are biodegradable. We recommend this towel from REI to dry off after swimming.
LUGGAGE LOCK
Better safe than sorry, so always lock your things!
EAR PLUGS
Recommended for light sleepers, and for use in the public-use huts on the multi-day backpacking trip. We recommend Mack’s ear plugs, and bonus: they’re WHOA pink!
REUSABLE COFFEE CUP
If you’re a keen coffee drinker and like helping Mother Nature! We love this Yeti Tumbler because it holds 20oz and keeps coffee nice and hot.
ADAPTER PLUG
New Zealand uses 240V type I plugs with two flat pins in a V-shape and a grounding pin. We recommend this one so you don’t run out of plugs!
SNACKS
There’s plenty of hearty food provided at meals but bring a few extra snacks. The days can be long and you need to keep your energy up! Make sure to grab some comfort foods! Your favorite snacks will give you that extra morale boost to finish each day strong. Some of our favorites are Cheez-Its and gummy worms.
ADDITIONAL NEW ZELAND PACKING TIPS
As well as adventuring, we’ll also be exploring some world class cities! You’ll have the chance to go out for amazing dinners, so bring along a nice shirt (or two) and a skirt or jeans.
RECOMMENDED READING
There are so many great stories to come out of New Zealand, probably because the landscape and the people inspire such creativity and adventure! Here is a list of recommended reads:
"AN ANGEL AT MY TABLE"
by Janet Frame
Though undoubtedly one of New Zealand's most accomplished novelists, Frame is perhaps best known for this three-volume autobiography, dramatised in Jane Campion's film which, with wit and a self-effacing honesty, gives a wonderful insight into both the author and her environment. Her superb novels and short stories use humour alongside highly disturbing combinations of events and characters to overthrow readers' preconceptions. For starters, try Faces in the Water, Living in the Maniototo, Scented Gardens for the Blind, Daughter Buffalo and Owls Do Cry (all The Women's Press).
"DOGSIDE STORY"
by Patricia Grace
Short-listed for the 2001 Booker Prize, this is a wonderful story concerning the power of the land and the power of whanau at the turn of the Millennium. (whanau is the Maori word for family)
"THE BONE PEOPLE"
by Keri Hulme
Celebrated winner of the 1985 Booker Prize, and a wonderful first novel set along the wild beaches of the South Island's West Coast. Mysticism, myth and earthy reality are transformed into a haunting tale peopled with richly drawn characters.
"KING OF THE GYPSIES"
by Witi Ihimaera Bulibasha
The best introduction to one of the country's finest Maori authors. A rollicking good read, energetically exploring the life of a rebellious teenager in 1950s rural New Zealand, where two mighty sheep-shearing families are locked in battle. It's an intense look at adolescence, cultural choices, family ties and the abuse of power, culminating in a masterful twist. Look out also for the excellent The Matriarch (Penguin) and The Uncle Story (Talanoa, NZ) by the same author.
"THE LUMINARIES"
by Eleanor Catton
Winner of the 2013 Man Booker Prize. The plot follows Walter Moody, a prospector who travels to the fledgling West Coast of the South Island settlement of Hokitika, near New Zealand's goldfields in 1866 to try to make his fortune. Instead he stumbles into a tense meeting between twelve local men, who draw him in to the complex mystery behind a series of unsolved crimes.
"THE PENGUIN HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND"
by Michael King
For NZ history this is the best book - It catalogues the history of New Zealand from initial settlement (well, at least the various theories of the initial settlements) right through to the government in 2005. This one is my favorite history books - to be read in small sections and with much discussion!