Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - What to pack: advice for a newbie

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What to pack: advice for a newbie

So I'm going on my first backpacking adventure at the end of September. I'm flying into Sydney, Australia and will be in Oz for several months. I'm also going to travel to New Zealand and Tasmania, and most likely some South Pacific countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, etc.

I've started thinking about what to pack, and have created a list. I would love to have any feedback, suggestions, comments, etc. This is version1 of my list of what to take. What do you guys and gals think?

http://www.deadorange.com/friend/Aus...Do.html#table2

Thanks for your advice!
Nick

Nick, I can only recycle the standard advice that you should take half the clothes you think you'll need and twice the money. Especially as you'll want to leave some room for gifts and other stuff you might buy on your travels. But good-quality footwear is very important, as you'll be on your feet a lot. Other than that I should leave advice to someone with backpacking experience, which leaves me out.

Just a couple of points: firstly, you won't find Malaysia and Thailand in the South Pacific - they're both in Southeast Asia. Secondly, saying "Australia, also Tasmania" is a bit like saying "the USA, also Vermont". Tasmania may be physically separate from the mainland, but is one of the six states that comprise the Commonwealth of Australia.

The problem is trying to remember what you wrote on that other site but here goes. Depending on the time of year that you are intending to go to NZ you will not have enough clothing for that. It can be very cold and so can Tassie. I think perhaps you would be better with 1 long sleeve shirt and 2 short sleeve shirts. For Australia and in particular the N.T and GBR etc all you will need are shorts, thongs ( flip flops) and a light weight shirt. I favour very light weight short sleeve shirts over T-shirts because a Tee needs ironing unless its poly cotton and then you are not getting the benefit of cotton! You can buy Sonic short sleeve shirts in Australia which drip dry over night and don't need ironing and are a light as a feather. You may think of waiting till you get here for those. The rest is up to you but for lightness sake I would be bringing a down-filled jacket for the colder areas which is light weight ( if you bring a pillow case you can use it as a pillow instead of the dreadfull pillows that you find in some places) one pair of jeans, 2 pr of shorts, 2 light weight shirts, one long shirt, various undies, 3 pr socks, thongs, hiking shoes and casual shoes - I can never seem to pack less than 3 footwear items. As for Malaysia and Thailand then think hotter than Australia and the same clothes would apply there as for Oz north. Don't know about no alcohol deo but I would say that there is. Remember that you can always buy stuff in any place anyway and if you are short on anything then just get it here.

at the risk of alienating the powers that be on this website, i would highly suggest that you have a look at www.lonelyeplanetonline.com and it's thorntree section. there are endless posts about what to pack in your backpack, what size backpack to take, how to lock it, etc. more nitty gritty advice for a trip of your length. here there is more of an emphasis on sightseeing/hotel recommendations/logistics.

i hope that is helpful and it is not at all meant to suggest that the above advice is in any way unsounds- just another resource for a traveler like yourself.

sorry- wrong "its" i always do that. :)

kerikeri, it's called "greengrocer's apostrophe" (as in "Banana's - $0.99").

Kerikeri is right - loads of posts on LP about these matters. But for what it's worth:

U will be able to buy pretty much anything u need in Oz/NZ and the only things u might find difficult to find in Thailand/Malaysia are a good torch and anything fleecy.

I NEVER travel with jeans - heavy to carry and hard to wash in a sink - well u can wash 'em in the shower but still they take ages to dry. Backpackers don't iron. Tshirts are fine if given a good shake and dried on a line. If u plan to stay in hostels in Oz/NZ no need to bring yr own clothesline - and skip the sleeping bag as most hostels won't allow you to use it, and you won't need it in SE Asia. If you need a bag for an organised tour you can hire one for AUD10 - a sleep sheet is not a bad idea - a pillow case, as previously mentioned, is an excellent one.

Good quality quick dry pants - yes!! Not sure if you are M/F - if F shorts/short skirts fine for Oz and one pair pants enuf. Then buy another here before u go to SE Asia as if you plan on travelling on the buses, esp in Malaysia, longs better respect the local culture.

From yr post I guess u will be in Tassie/NZ summer time so I wd pack a lightweight rain jacket, a long sleeve light polartec jumper and a 2-3 season sleeveless fleece for there. But if u don't want to carry these around before you need them - they can always be bought in Oz go to