Skip to main content

Packing for New Zealand

So I'm getting ready to embark on the longest vacation of my life.  One month in New Zealand. My plan is to pack for about a week and do laundry a few times while on the road (many of the places we booked indicated they had laundry facilities).  We did some shopping for "travel" clothes and I ended up getting some Columbia pants and shirts because they are light weight, dry quickly, look nice and are still comfy for some of our longer car trips.  Variables like weather and activities make it hard to be prepared for all situations.

It all needs to fit in one smallish carry on and one larger suitcase.  This is my plan:
  • Pajamas (1)
  • Robe (1)
  • Undies (7)
  • Tops (6)
  • Tank tops (2)
  • Long sleeve denim shirt
  • Pants (3)
  • Capris (2)
  • Skort (1)
  • Swimsuit (1)
  • Raincoat (1)
  • Fleece (1)
  • Hoodie (1)
  • Yoga pants (1)
  • Socks (7)
  • Sandals (2) - Keens for activities and dressier for around town
  • Walking shoes (1)

Now what about the non-clothing items?
  • Airplane pillow (inflatable)
  • iPad (books, music, games)
  • iPod
  • Nylon backpack for day trips and souvenirs - folds up into tiny pouch
  • Cell phone - it will mainly be used as my camera
  • Paperback book - for off the grid moments
  • Chargers and converter for electronics
  • Hair dryer and curling iron - maybe, can't decide on these
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • Toiletries
  • Water bottle
  • Towel - quick dry
  • Sunglasses
  • Reading glasses
  • Hat
  • GPS
This is beginning to remind me of the George Carlin bit about stuff.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

More Islands Please

As predicted, we woke up to a rainy morning, but with our handy list of wet weather activities we ventured out into the rain decked out in our quick-dry clothing, hats, umbrella for Shawn and raincoat for me.  Because the north island just isn't enough island for us, we once again found ourselves on a ferry headed to the island of Russell. How often do you see a yacht with a helicopter on it? We strolled in the rain along the waterfront to the Russell Museum to learn about the Maori and European history of New Zealand.  The museum includes a one-fifth scale model of Cook's ship Endeavour.  The rigging is pretty amazing with numerous wooden pulleys. Next we headed to the Pompallier Mission (1841).  While waiting for our tour to begin, we strolled the gardens in the rain.  We were on the only brave souls, but it was worth the climb up the soggy hill.  I think agapanthus are a weed here.  They are everywhere...little ones grow along ...

A Risotto Kind of Day

Shawn went scuba diving today, so I'll leave the fish tales to him.  I walked about town and enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the wharf at 36 degrees. (I'm guessing that's our latitude.  If I remember my 6th grade teacher correctly, longitude is the long vertical lines on the globe and latitude is the circles.  Feel free to correct me.) Pumpkin Risotto with Cashews and Fried Kale Maori long boats getting ready for the Treaty Day celebration In the afternoon we headed further north to Doubtful Bay.  We have a cute little apartment right on the beach.  The big, beautiful house next door is the owner's.  He pulled a Tom Sawyer on Shawn and had him help reel in the fishing line. The owner's lovely house on the left Shawn reeling in the fishing line New Zealanders are always ready to help you to your next destination I swear I'm not making this up, but we had dinner at the Waterfront Cafe.  I get it, New Zealand is an isla...

Sounds Like a Fiord

At 7:00 AM we were standing in the rain waiting for our bus to Manapouri and our final destination of  Doubtful Sound in the Fiordlands.  We switched to a ferry to cross the lake, and then back to a bus  to finally reach Doubtful Sound.  The sound got its name when catain Cook got close to its entrance in 1770.  Fearing he would not be able to sail his ship Endeavor back out, he noted that it was Doubtful. We travelled through the fiords for 3 hours.  The rain was a curse and a blessing.  There are only a handful of permanent waterfalls in the sound, but when it rains there are waterfalls everywhere.  If it had stopped raining (which it did not), our guide said the waterfalls would be gone within 4 hours.  So we had low visibility with the rain and mist but lots of waterfall sightings.  The pictures do not do justice to the beauty and vastness of the fiords.  You'll just have to trust us, or better yet plan a trip! We g...