Packing List

New Zealand, March 22 – April 5, 2026. 2 travelers, 15 days. Mix of cities, hiking, boat tours, and long drive days. Autumn shoulder season — expect warm days (15–22°C), cool evenings (5–12°C), and rain at any time, especially on the West Coast.

Clothing

Layers (the key principle in NZ)

  • [y] Lightweight base layer (87% merino/13% nylon blend, 150g) × 2 per person — REI Merino 185 Long-Sleeve Base Layer Top - Men's
  • [y] Mid layer - Patagonia R1 Air fleece
  • [x] Light puffer or insulated jacket × 1 — evenings in Queenstown, Te Anau, and high-altitude days - Superdry pink jacket and Uniqlo Heat tech
  • [y] Waterproof hardshell jacket (non-negotiable) × 1 each — Milford Sound, West Coast, Arthurs Pass all have heavy rain - Torrentshell jacket

Tops

  • [] T-shirts × 4–5
  • [x] Long-sleeve shirts × 2–3
  • [x] Two nicer shirts or top for dinners in Queenstown / Auckland

Bottoms

  • [y] Hiking pants × 1 - REI Trailmade pants
  • [x] Casual pants or jeans × 1 (for city days — Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown evenings)
  • [x] Shorts × 1–2 (warm days in Auckland and Queenstown)
  • [x] Thermal leggings × 1 (Te Anau mornings, Doubtful Sound, Arthurs Pass)

Socks & Underwear

  • [y] Hiking socks (quarter crew height, merino blend) × 4–5 pairs — Kirkland Extra Fine Merino works if the cut fits the Adidas; test before the trip
  • [x] Everyday socks × 3–4 pairs
  • [x] Underwear × 7 days worth (plan to do laundry once mid-trip)

Footwear

  • [y] Trail runners (Adidas) — primary footwear for all hikes and casual days; Hooker Valley, Blue Pools, Key Summit, Devil's Punchbowl are all manageable in trail runners
  • [x] Hoka shoes
  • [x] Sandals or slip-ons — hotel rooms, airports, evenings

Outerwear & Accessories

  • [?] Waterproof pants / rain trousers × 1 — Milford Sound cruise deck, West Coast, wet hike days
  • [y] Warm beanie (merino) × 1 — boat decks, Burkes Pass, high passes; Smartwool Merino 250 Beanie (~$28)
  • [y] Sun cap × 1 — sunny hiking days; NZ UV is extreme at altitude
  • [y] Gloves (lightweight liner, touchscreen compatible) × 1 pair — Smartwool Liner Gloves (~$35) or OR Activeice Sun Gloves (~$29)
  • [y] Scarf — versatile for wind and cold
  • [x] Sunglasses — strong UV at altitude and on the water
  • [x] Swimwear × 1 — Onsen Hot Pools (Day 10)

Gear & Equipment

Hiking Day Pack

  • [x] 20–30L daypack × 1 each (or one shared) — for all hikes; fits snacks, water, layers
  • [ ] Rain cover for the pack (or use a dry bag liner inside)

Water & Food

  • [ ] Water bottle or hydration system × 1 each (refillable — NZ tap water is safe everywhere)
  • [ ] Small snack supply for the car — crackers, nuts, dried fruit, muesli bars
  • [ ] Headlamp × 1 each — early morning departures (Doubtful Sound, day hikes), caves, power cuts
  • [y] Portable battery / power bank × 1 — full-day hiking days away from the car

Health & First Aid

  • [x] Avomine (seasickness tablets) — essential for Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound cruises; take the night before and morning of
  • [x] Basic first aid kit — blister pads, bandaids, antiseptic, ibuprofen, paracetamol
  • [x] Sunscreen SPF 50+ — NZ UV index is one of the highest in the world year-round
  • [x] Insect repellent — sandflies are severe on the West Coast and at Milford Sound; DEET-based is most effective
  • [y] Any prescription medications — bring extra; NZ pharmacies are good but prescriptions don't transfer

Toiletries

  • [ ] Shampoo / conditioner (travel size or solid bar — easier for bag weight)
  • [ ] Body wash
  • [ ] Deodorant
  • [x] Toothbrush / toothpaste / floss
  • [x] Lip balm (SPF) — essential in alpine and coastal wind
  • [ ] Hand cream — cold and wind dries hands out quickly

Tech & Electronics

  • [ ] Phone + charger
  • [ ] Laptops + chargers
  • [ ] Power adaptor for New Zealand (Type I — same as Australia; 3 flat pins at an angle). Required if coming from the US
  • [ ] Car charger / USB adapter (for long drive days — Haast Pass is 8+ hrs)
  • [ ] Earphones / earbuds — long flights and drives

Documents & Admin

  • [x] Passports (valid for 6+ months beyond April 2026)
  • [ ] NZeTA confirmation (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority)
  • [ ] Travel insurance documents (printed + saved offline)
  • [ ] Car rental confirmations (both rentals: North Island and South Island)
  • [ ] All accommodation confirmations printed or saved offline
  • [ ] Activity booking confirmations: Spellbound, Hobbiton, Milford cruise, Doubtful Sound cruise, Gondola, Onsen Hot Pools, Glacier Heli-Hike
  • [ ] International driving permit (if your license is not in English — US licenses are accepted in NZ)
  • [ ] Emergency contact list (printed)

Day Hike Packing List

What to carry in your daypack on every hike:

  • [ ] Water — minimum 1.5L per person (some tracks have no water sources)
  • [ ] Snacks — energy bars, nuts, dried fruit; one substantial snack per hike
  • [ ] Waterproof jacket — always, even on clear days
  • [ ] Warm layer (fleece or light down) — temperature drops quickly in alpine areas
  • [ ] Sunscreen and sunglasses
  • [ ] Headlamp (if any chance of a late finish)
  • [ ] First aid basics — blister pads, ibuprofen
  • [ ] Phone (charged, with offline maps downloaded for the area)
  • [ ] Cash or card — some trailhead parking requires a fee

Laundry Strategy

Most accommodation in NZ has a coin laundry or guest laundry on-site. Plan one full laundry day mid-trip:

  • Best opportunity: Day 8 (Queenstown) — the Queenstown hotel will likely have laundry facilities, and the evening is relatively open after returning from Te Anau
  • Pack 7–8 days of clothing and wash once around Day 8–9
  • Bring a small travel laundry bag to keep dirty clothes contained in the car

What Not to Bring

  • Hiking poles — not needed for any hike on this itinerary
  • Crampons / microspikes — trails in late March/early April are typically clear; the heli-hike provides all glacier equipment
  • A heavy coat — a mid layer + hardshell covers everything on this trip
  • Multiple pairs of jeans — too heavy and slow to dry; one pair maximum