New Zealand Vacation Tips

When traveling to New Zealand you may not know exactly what to bring, what to leave behind and what to pick up along the way. According to many travel experts, it is better to underpack than to overpack, so if you don't know if you should bring an item with you on your New Zealand vacation you are better off leaving it behind. After all you can usually pick up that item in New Zealand or simply do without it.

Clothes to Bring to New Zealand's North Island

New Zealand's North Island is a popular tourist destination year round. It is the warmer of the two New Zealand islands so you won't need as much clothing if you are vacationing here as you would if you plan on visiting the South Island. However, the types of clothes that you bring to New Zealand's North Island are going to need to reflect what you plan on doing. For example, if you plan on participating in water sports you will want to bring you swim trunks, deck shoes and snorkeling masks. On the other hand, if you plan on visiting the volcanoes located on the North Island then you will want to bring pants, hiking shoes and thin layers. You will also want to bring a wind breaker and a warmer jacket for the cool evenings and morning.

Clothes to Bring to New Zealand's South Island

The South Island of New Zealand has a more temperate climate. This is because it is located farther from the Equator and closer to the South Pole. The clothing that you bring to this island will need to reflect where you will be visiting and what you will be doing. It will also need to reflect whether you are visiting in the summer months or the winter months.

For city adventures during the summer months generic summer clothing is going to work fine. You can bring shorts, t-shirts and tank tops. If you will be visiting the beach or if you will be boating while on the South Island then sandals and deck shoes are appropriate. On the other hand, if you are going to hike, go glacier climbing or if you are going to visit during the winter months, then you will want to bring warmer clothing, hiking shoes, snow boots and a heavy jacket.

Adventure Gear and Your New Zealand Vacation

If you are planning a lot of different adventures while on your New Zealand vacation then you need to plan ahead. Getting gear from the United States to New Zealand can be difficult to do, especially bulky gear like SCUBA equipment and climbing gear. While you can ship these items ahead of you or check them in with your air line, your best bet in many cases is to rent the equipment once you are in New Zealand. If you are working with an adventure guide, they can usually set you up with the equipment that you will need. All you have to do is provide your measurements and sizes ahead of time. If you don't want to rent equipment, then consider buying your equipment when you get to New Zealand and then ship it back to the U.S. when your vacation is over.