We will be arriving Oct 30 and driving the southern circle route (Christchurch, Dunedin, TeAnau (overnight Doubtful Sound) Queenstown, Lake Tekapo, Chirstchurch). I have been advised that we should plan on cool to cold, damp and rainy (maximum of 62 high/40 low) We bought a great waterproof parka but no warmth.

Do we need hat, gloves, and zippered microfleece plus long sleeve tops? Capris or only long pants? Do nice restaurants, such as the Bunker in Queenstown, expect nice attire?

Our maximum weight allowance of 44 pounds is creating quite a challenge! We will also be attending the opera in Sydney and reserving fancy restaurants. Seems that Nike athletic wear fits the bill--doesn't wrinkle and is "quickdri". Sound ok? (except for the Sydney portion)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you can swing it, bring rain pants. You'll be outside a lot, likely in rain, and don't want to get wet. We got soaked in Fiordland and Dunedin.
Otherwise it's pretty casual. Bring one nice pair of black pants, one pair of jeans, and one pair of capris. Wear the black pants in Sydney's nice restaurants.
We were in the South Island in January and never wore shorts (and we live in Minnesota). You won't be hot.
I would personally bring a hat and gloves. We didn't wear ours except for on the glaciers, but again we were there in January when it was "warm".
You'll have an awesome time!

It's very hard getting the balance right when packing for a trip, particularly with the 20kg weight limit.

You won't need hat & gloves, unless you habitually wear them, or intend going onto the Glaciers, and even then you would probably get by. I don't even own hat & gloves, other than my ski gear, which I never wear off the slopes.

A waterproof Parka/Jacket is a must. If you have a smart waterproof jacket, that would probably be a good choice. otherwise a cheap plastic throw away would suffice.

If you intend tramping, or doing any activity which might make you sweat, you need some decent insulation between your skin and the waterproof. Cotton, Linen and some polyesters are not adequate. Their insulating qualities dissapear when they get wet (from sweating). Wool, or a wool blend is the best, but polyester thermal underwear is usually OK.

We usually wear a couple of layers of light clothing. Perhaps a cotton or wool blend singlet, and a medium weight long sleeve sweat shirt, with a good waterproof padded jacket for when we go outside.

There's plenty of cheap, and reasonably good clothing available from likes of The Warehouse, or K Mart, so you could just pack the minimum you think you can get away with, and buy more if you need it.

Australia is warmer than NZ, but it can still get chilly in Sydney, and it rains a bit. 'Smart Casual" will get you into all but the most toffee nosed establishments. Certainly there is nowhere in Queenstown that would turn you away if you had money in your pocket. Don't know about the Sydney Opera. Aussies tend to be a fairly laid back bunch, and I can't see you having any problem, unless you were REALY scruffy. How about a shirt & tie, with a sweater if it's a bit cold.

When I travel I wear my "Good" outfit on the plane, and pack 2 changes of underwear, and a couple of sweat shirts, and a pair of slacks. If I'm going anywhere near the equator I also take a pair of shorts and comfortable sandels. If I think it may be cold I take my padded jacket, otherwise I leave it in the car, ready for when I come back. Never been caught out in over 40 years of tripping around the globe, although on occasion I've brought some local clothing so I didn't look too much like a tourist, and sometimes I have taken a fancy to something, like a leather jacket in Bali, and have had to find room for it in my bulging suit case.

If you can't think of a specific need for an item, don't bring it, you'll never miss it, and it won't be the end of the world if you do!!

Aside from your parka, I'd take one fleecy jacket that will fit under it.
I wore tshirts in Feb, long and short sleeve and only needed 1 fleecy and one rain jacket. We were so lucky and had great weather but Tim and Liz are right, a pair of rain pants would be a good idea.
I threw in a pair of gloves and was glad the one time I wore them on the overnight cruise. On the water can be cool.
I only wore long pants but did wear sandals alot.
Everywhere is very casual. I didn't wear the dress I took and woulnd't bother next time.
I pair of jeans, one pair of Columbia pants , maybe a pair of crops or shorts..and you're set.
A few t shirts ..a couple long some short sleeve...
thats it.

Yes, for NZ in October you need hat gloves microfleece and a rain jacket. A thin merino wool sweater works well as another layer for a top. You probably won't need "capris" but I found a pair of hiking shorts with pockets handy. Also long underwear and waterproof pants.

A woollie hat weighs next to nothing, and you know what they say, 75% or something like that of body heat goes out from the top of the head! Layers is the thing, of course. A good lightweight fleece and windproof jacket should do the trick.

It will be a warmer than 18C in Sydney in November. It can get up to 30C in Sept if it feels like it.

And no need to frock up for the SOH - you could go in capris if you like. Plenty of folk go in jeans - though it's perhaps a bit more dressy for the opera than the ballet. If it's theatre - anything goes! As it should.

Having said that, there could be a cold snap, and it's sometimes windier down by the harbour than up in the CBD - so longs probably preferable, and even on a balmy night take a wrap or cardi to fend off the air conditioning.

You really don't need much. 20kg should be ample.

I'd throw in a fleece pullover or jacket. Skip the hat and gloves. I was there in June of 2005 and didn't see any capris but I wasn't exactly looking.

We enjoyed the symphony at the opera house on a weekday afternoon. There is no dress code and more than a few tourists wore jeans. The 'natives', a somewhat elderly crowd, wore tweeds and plaids.

My fancy restaurant outfit was a pair of black slacks worn with a black cashmere turtleneck and a silver necklace I bought in New Zealand. The men I noticed at "41" wore jackets and open collared shirts.

Check out 'packing light' threads for other suggestions on meeting the 44 pound limit. We traveled for a month through New Zealand with 4 pairs of slacks, and 7 tops (2 knit shirts, three turtleneck sweaters and a sweater set). Minimize the number of colors and make sure that every top goes with every bottom. Only your travel companion will see you in the same outfit more than once. Laundramats are great places for meeting people.

Thanks for being so specific. My thought was 4 slacks --3 pair of black slacks--one for dress, one Nike nylon/lycra track suit for the plane and everyday wear, plus one more non wrinkle fabric and jeans. Maybe one pair of light weight black capris in case it's warm in Sydney. Three pair of shoes--running, Puma and dress?

What weight of fleece--micro fleece pull over, winter Patagonia jacket or LL Bean polar fleece cardigan? I have a black zip heavy cashmere cardigan which I take with me on every trip. I just hate being cold and we are not used to humidity. It doesn't seem appropriate to go to "41" in my lime green rain parka--how do you look nice for restaurants? A different style of jacket? Seems that a sweater set would still need another layer to be warm enough in NZ?

We are traveling with 2 other couples and the three men would like to avoid taking a bulky sport coat--would that be a mistake?

I took the LLBean polar fleece cardigan.
If you are at all worried about being cold, throw in your silk long underwear. It weighs nothing

Unless it is pouring rain, you won't need the raincoat in any place dressy. I can't remember any place in New Zealand that was dressy. Queenstown is a town many people go to for the recreational activities: think after ski rather than big city sophistication. Sydney is sophisticated but still laid-back.

I took two pairs of black Ecco shoes. They are wonderful walking shoes (not hiking) and the plain toes are inconspicuous under my black slacks.

As for men and sports jackets, I wouldn't want to drag one around to wear once or twice. Try substituting a dress shirt, tie and pull-over sweater that will probably get more use.

Are you going anywhere else in Australia?

We will only be in Sydney at the Four Seasons for 5 days and 5 nights. Thanks for clarifying the fleece--I thought I would need to start looking for a heavier weight at REI.

When you are traveling in October and November downunder, think April and May in Denver. Spring in Sydney should be ideal--not too hot and not too cold.

I know you will have a great trip.

If you are planning on spending any time at all outdoors in NZ, I would try to make the track pair of pants at least water-resistant, if not water repellant. If it was cold, I would layer the long underwear, a pair of fleece pants (black or other dark color) with the waterproof overpants. I hate bringing jeans because they take forever to dry, and are heavy.

I am a real pansy. There are no activities which interest me in the rain. We will not be involved with the glaciers or hiking--strickly sightseeing from the car and walking around the places where we are staying. I do have a pair of thin silk long underwear which I could easily add. I also bought those compression bags which should help reduce the bulk in our suitcases--unfortunately not the weight.

My biggest concern is our feet. If our shoes get wet, they could take the entire trip to dry out?

Wet shoes are probably not as big a concern if you are not hiking thigh-deep (well ankle deep) through puddles.

If you have a leather shoe that doesn't have any waterproofing, it will take several days to dry and will never be quite right after that.

For the main pair of walking shoes/boots, it's better to either find something waterproof or mostly of one of the lightweight nylon fabric type.

The odds are slim that your shoes will get that wet. If they do and you can't dry them out in a day or two, buy a replacement pair there.