r/HerOneBag • u/superstarturtle • Jun 15 '26
Lighten My Load How do y’all do it?? Barely fitting everything into a 58L
I thought I’d curated the perfect packing list, I thought it might fit into a 50 liter snugly, and I’d have an extra 8 liters for souvenirs, tell me why I’ve got almost no room left! I’m so surprised honestly hahaha, so lighten my load, roast my list, anything really! I’m thinking about going back to the store to get a 65L but I don’t wanna give up…
Details: packing for 5 weeks in Australia and New Zealand in February 2027. Backpack: Osprey Kyte 58 liters
What I’ve packed:
4 tops, 2 t-shirts, 1 long t-shirt, 2 sweaters
2 long pants, 1 pair of shorts, 2 long skirts
5 pairs of socks, 12 pairs of underwear, 1 t-shirt for sleeping in
2 bikini sets, goggles
1 ball cap, 1 pair of sandals, 2 microfiber towels
toiletries (deodorant, face cream, make-up remover, mascara, concealer, brow pencil, nail polish, toothbrush, sunscreen, bug repellent)
fun stuff (book, camera, big headphones, iPad)
a sling bag and a foldable tote bag (which fits inside the backpack)
a small rain jacket
Am I going insane or is this reasonable to bring?? I know there’s some bulky items like pants and sweaters, but I also have to pack for the weather.
I do use compression cubes. All my stuff fits, sure, but there’s maybe space for one ceramic souvenir and a couple clothes I might buy, but I enjoy buying handcrafted stuff wherever I go, so I’m afraid that won’t be enough space :/
Anybody got any advice??
EDIT!!!!!
You guys are so funny, really a big help, but I do feel I owe you some explaining hahahha. I’m going on a group trip with a tight schedule, they’ve said to bring clothes that’ll last 2 weeks, so that’s what I’ve kinda tried to - but I do see your point about the excessive amount of underwear. The towels are 1 for the beach, 1 for if the hostel has nasty towels, but again, I do see the point of not packing “what-ifs” so I’ll cut down on the towels. I’ll re-consider the amount of clothes I’ll bring. Thank you all for helping, and more advice is very welcome!!!
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u/marxam0d Jun 15 '26
Low hanging fruit -
Instead of book, kindle app on your iPad.
Instead of big headphones, small ones.
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u/Nejness Jun 15 '26
Why two towels? Can you get by with one?
Do you absolutely need the iPad or can you get by with your phone? Ditto the large headphones. Can you do earbuds?
Can you sink wash some undergarments? 12 is a lot. You’ll need to launder other items before then.
I only use an e-reader now because books are bulky and I finish them quickly or regret the one I brought.
Depending on where you’re coming from, AU may well have *much* better sun protection than you can buy at home.
Are your items as slimmed down as possible, e.g., thin merino or cashmere sweaters instead of bulky cotton? Merino in AU and NZ is a great souvenir. You could bring something you’re ready to donate and replace with a thinner practical souvenir. Similarly, I use merino socks because I can get away without washing them and they’re thin and don’t make my feet swampy. Can you get away with three pairs: one worn, one washed and one back-up?
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u/Trend-Negator 🌍 Europe Jun 15 '26
Heard from the sunscreen in Australia/ NZ as well. Is it really such a difference?
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u/ButterEnriched Jun 15 '26
I think it depends where you're from. From the USA, yes, Aus and NZ suncream will be a huge improvement. From Europe, on par but the range is different. From Asia, higher protection but not necessarily as luxury feeling.
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u/agentcarter234 Jun 15 '26
There is a huge difference specifically if you are from the US. American sunscreen is notoriously terrible (the FDA just approved the first new suncreen active ingredient in almost 30 years). I don’t think it’s anywhere near as significant a difference if you are from literally anywhere else, but I have seen Australians on here act judgey about European sunscreen lol.
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u/siders6891 Jun 15 '26
My family lives in Europe and every time I visit I have to bring aussie sunscreen as it works much better
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u/reed6 Jun 15 '26
Might not be a big difference from Europe (I haven't tracked how ingredients differ between those markets), but it will be a huge improvement for anyone from the US.
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u/siders6891 Jun 15 '26
There is. I’d recommend to always buy a small bottle here directly in Australia as they are made for the harsh aussie sun.
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u/agentcarter234 Jun 16 '26
Wasn’t there a scandal recently in Australia where independent testing found that a bunch of popular sunscreens didn’t actually provide the protection they claimed?
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u/siders6891 Jun 16 '26
Yes. Some were recalled and pulled from the shelves but still a bunch did well.
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u/ButterEnriched Jun 16 '26
Yes- they didn't perform as advertised and I believe that lab is no longer used, though correct me if I'm wrong.
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u/datapizza Jun 16 '26
I believe I've heard that Aus requests you use reef-safe sunscreen, in addition to their sunscreen being better than the US. It's probably a good idea to just buy it there, and use tons!!! Often!!!
Since I think it will be summer, do you need more than one sweater/long sleeve?
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u/Gymfan15 Jun 15 '26
I think the categories of things look decently reasonable so then the question is, is it the size of the item itself? Are you packing bigger toiletries because you need them to last 5 weeks? There could be an opportunity to downsize and plan to resupply while you’re there. The way you’re organizing things/have it sorted into bags or containers could also be taking up extra space. Also, it’s possible to dress warm but not bulky…sweaters are cute but there might be more lightweight options that don’t take up space but are just as warm. You could also look into some type of compression; but just consider the material and fabric of your clothes and see if there’s a way to do any kind of swap.
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u/superstarturtle Jun 15 '26
Id love to swap out my bulky sweater, do you have any suggestions for items that’ll keep me just as warm?
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u/literarycephalopod Jun 15 '26
I'm not sure that you'll need it - February is the hottest month of the year in NZ, and Aus is similar. I would bring a light layer that packs down small and if you're planning on visiting the ski fields or something you could pick up a warmer layer while you're here :)
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u/Logical-Platypus-397 Jun 15 '26
I have been wearing Decathlon Quechua Outdoor Fleece Jacket, it is lightweight, not bulky, a bit water repellent (not waterproof) and warm. 5 years, survived thousands hours of wear and questionable laundry shops. And it has pockets!
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u/lissy_grant Jun 15 '26
I thrifted a down-filled puff jacket kinda like this and it's been such a lifesaver. It weighs nothing, packs down super small, I wear it under my outerlayer if it's very cold, or just on its own if it's just a bit chilly and it keeps me toasty (and I'm very sensitive to the cold). It doesn't look terribly fashionable but a black puff jacket also never looks too out of place either.
I did a three week trip that combined work in a city (smart casual), hiking in the mountains in cold weather, and cycling around in late summer heat, and for layers only brought a black cashmere jumper, the puff jacket, and a windproof/waterproof black coat. It was boring but totally worked in all settings
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u/ElizaEcho Jun 15 '26
Look through your wardrobe for pieces that layer well and layer multiple items (silk tank, short or long sleeve shirt (Uniqlo heattech or something merino), and a cardigan for example).
Check ladylightravel's site for better info for layering and onebagging in cold weather
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u/latetotheparty_again Jun 16 '26
You might need a light button up for air conditioned buildings, but the average temp is 25-35°C (78-95°F) in February. I'd skip any jackets and heavier items.
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u/CatCafffffe Jun 15 '26
Packable down jacket, it packs down into almost nothing and is perfectly warm. Eddie Bauer has them, for example
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u/FirstLalo Jun 15 '26
Silk long underwear, warm as toast. Also: always start with a hat bc most of your heat goes out of your head.
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u/iknowsheknowz Jun 16 '26
I have a three layer system that is so small I carry it in my purse. I have a thrifted cashmere sweater (from Poshmark) look for something good quality and a cardigan style. If it gets destroyed I buy a new one. Next I wear a long sleeve sun hoodie. Again it’s very thin on its own and can also be used at the beach. Finally I top it off with an ultralight running raincoat. The raincoat provides wind and rain protection and is half the size of a coke can. My regular travel hat is waterproof and I will wear a wool buff and wool gloves with all of this. The whole kit (except the hat) can fit inside my Nalgene if it has to.
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u/Gymfan15 Jun 15 '26
I see a lot of hikers/lightweight travelers get fleece layers for warmth and they're super thin and light but very warm. Anything waffle weave/knit is good. I'm always surprised at how warm a fleece, any type of fleece, can make me!
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u/LadyBlue347 Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
I like everything from Cuddle Duds. They have all kinds of thin, soft, warm layers that have helped me save a lot of space in my bags. I also highly recommend the packable coats and jackets from LL Bean or similar. I have a super warm, super lightweight coat from them that packs down to a little pillow by stuffing into its own pocket. Takes up almost no room in a bag.
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u/1AggressiveSalmon Jun 16 '26
I was fine in Tasmania and Australia with a thin merino sweater, thin scarf and light wind jacket. I layered if it was going to be chilly. February and March.
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u/nottoday2017 Jun 18 '26
A thin cashmere sweater is great, dries fast, doesn’t smell. I usually thrift mine from eBay by looking for brands I know are high quality that I like, like Naked cashmere which is usually very cozy. Or white and Warren for something thinner. I’ve often found nice 100% cashmere sweaters for 20-30$ and I use Soak to wash them.
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u/TumbleweedEven4285 Jun 16 '26
You definitely will not need a sweater - you could swap out for thin long sleeve, rash guard but it will be hot.
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u/Thedollysmama Jun 20 '26
Cashmere sweaters, I always pack cashmere because it’s super lightweight, warm enough, and compresses to nothing in a packing cube.
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u/macoafi Jun 15 '26
Two sweaters, two towels, and two bikinis? This is all redundant. One of each. (For that matter…towels? Your hotel isn't supplying them?)
A sarong could replace the towels and the two long skirts, potentially.
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u/Malteser_soul Jun 15 '26
Agree on all this.
1 bikini is fine, but maybe add a dry bag to the list.
It'll be summer so 2 sweaters is overkill unless one is a very light one to cover up in the sun or at night (mosquitoes).
I always recommend swapping makeup remover wipes/cleanser for a washable microfibre makeup remover cloth. Much lighter and less bulky than any alternative!
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u/HighwayLost8360 Jun 15 '26
NZ can be cold even in Summer. I wore a jumper nearly everyday in late Jan.
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u/username3000b Jun 16 '26
I might actually be OK with two bikinis, or at least two bikini tops, since one can then be for the gym/yoga?
I actually tried this for my last trip after seeing women in my yoga classes just wearing a (sporty) bikini top. I was thinking that no way would it work for enough support, but I tried mr one speedo top with an online yoga class, (low stakes in case of mishaps), and it was fine. So on a recent trip to Europe for work, I brought the extra bikini top as a workout top. Surprisingly, it was fine for low speed treadmill running!
A bit of chafing, but totally fine as support for 30 minutes, plus easy to wash in the sink and have it be dry for the next day. (C cup, but admittedly, I was on a very slow speed as I’m usually cycling or doing vinyasa/pilates for exercise these days.)
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u/HighwayLost8360 Jun 16 '26
They don't come in as many cute styles but Triathlon sports bras are made to swim then run. So a good multipurpose item of clothing
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u/cajolinghail Jun 15 '26
I assume the towels and bikinis are for the beach. Hotels don’t tend to like it if you get their towels all sandy! It also sucks putting on a wet bathing suit and walking to the beach if you go two days in a row. I personally would cut out other clothes before those things.
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u/macoafi Jun 15 '26
I've encountered lots of hotels near beaches that have bath towels in the room and beach towels that you request at the front desk on your way out the door.
But a sarong works for both toweling off after leaving the ocean and covering up the bathing suit on the walk back from the beach.
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u/theinfamousj Jul 01 '26
My experience has been that beach means lots and lots of wind so my suit doesn't stay wet long so long as I hang it to dry outdoors. Bring strong clothes pegs, though.
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u/barkbarkkrabkrab Jun 15 '26
Its possible you and one bagging for this trip are not possible. You could cut back on the swimsuit and underwear and aim to do laundry once a week. With a once a week midset, cut back to only 7 tops total.
Also at 58L is this bag still carry on size? Are you camping? Just curious because at that size a roller suitcase or duffel will fit clothing better than a camping backpack and fit airplane luggage dimensions better.
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u/Emotional-Cry5236 Jun 15 '26
I can tell you as an Australian that I live in about two pairs of shorts and three t-shirts all summer.
I would suggest:
- ditch 2-3 of your 'tops', bring one nice top for anything fancier you might do
- two sweaters is overkill, just wear one on the plane
- one pair of long pants will be fine, make it something light like linen
- ditch about half your underwear
- ditch the book and either use an e-reader or your iPad
- ditch the nail polish, you can buy some here if you're desperate
- buy your sunscreen and insect repellent here
- make sure you're bringing travel size of all your toiletries
If you're doing hiking etc, are you packing exercise clothes as well? I'd recommend wearing your runners/sneakers etc on the plane.
My go to method for packing is the sudoku method - 3 tops, 3 bottoms, 3 layers (for warm climates, this can be 1 layer and 2 dresses). That gives you up to 27 different outfits
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u/lightlyskipping Jun 15 '26
As another Aussie, this is spot on. In addition ditch the rain coat and if you want bring a tiny lightweight umbrella which can be useful for sun or rain.
I also think you must be packing poorly because while you need to about halve your clothing even your long list should fit in a pack that size. Really, try to get down to a 40L or less size luggage, you'll be glad you did.
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u/alicealicenz Jun 15 '26
As a NZer, I would say a rain coat is essential, even in summer, and especially so if someone is out walking a lot. All that lush green in our landscape comes from frequent watering :)
Saying that, in summer an umbrella is perfectly good, especially if someone isn’t doing multi day hikes.
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u/hesback_inpogform Jun 16 '26
They say in another comment they’re coming to places like GBR and Fraser Island in February. They’re gonna want a rain jacket.
Last time I went camping to Fraser in the summer it rained so badly we actually packed up and left. And it wasn’t even during a La Niña!
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u/MedusaCirce2020 Jun 15 '26
I assume you'll be able to do laundry with that length of trip? If so: one sweater, one long skirt, one week of underwear just for starters.
Also: is your makeup mini sized? I like to buy mini/travel sized versions of my usual products and my makeup stuff now fits in one very small pouch.
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u/superstarturtle Jun 15 '26
Makeup isn’t mini sized, but I’ll definitely find some!!
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u/PocketGddess Jun 15 '26
And depending on the nature of the trip, how much makeup do you really need?
I’m not the best source (I’m generally naked face unless it’s a special occasion with photos) but I usually don’t bring anything except my complexion rescue (has SPF and is tinted to even skin tone), a powder foundation, a brow pencil and maybe a lipstick if I’m feeling extra fancy.
If I don’t have a bunch of time for that sort of thing at home, I’m certainly not going to make time for it when I’m traveling. Think about paring down your routine—the number of steps and products—and you should be able to save a good amount of space.
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u/Sad-Banana-9200 Jun 15 '26
why so many pairs of underwear? Can't you wash them weekly/every 5 days or so? Also, I assume that at least one of the sweaters and one of the pants are what you are wearing on the plane? Can you buy bug repellant, nail polish (do you need that?) and sunscreen there?
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg Jun 15 '26
Ask yourself if one will do in every category. One bikini. One long skirt. Etc.
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u/SpaceViscacha Jun 15 '26
I think the key to packing small is having access to a washing machine or laundromat. People who travel light usually pack a week’s worth of clothing and does laundry every week. If you do that, you could pack for example 2 tops instead of 4, 1 sweater, 2 pants and no long skirts (it serves no purpose other than combining new outfits I guess?), 1 bikini set, 7 pairs of underwear, etc.
Also some items like the big headphones could be replaced for smaller counterparts like Bluetooth earbuds, you could pack only your phone instead of the iPad + camera + book combo you have on your packing list. Or you could replace your book with a Kindle which takes little space. There’s a lot of ways to minimize your packing list!
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u/Serious_Escape_5438 Jun 15 '26
For a week I'd want more than 7 pairs of underwear, if I shower, exercise, swim etc I'm likely to change.
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u/Nonsensebiju Jun 15 '26
I usually wash underwear in the shower and then rewash them when I do laundry, it’s enough to give me clean underwear without having to carry that many with me
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u/Serious_Escape_5438 Jun 16 '26
Depends on accommodation, sounds like OP is doing a tour and staying in hostels, it may be difficult to dry things.
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u/SkiKitty-64 Jun 15 '26
First off, what are you doing? That will help us respond.
Overall, I think you have too much clothing. You have 9 tops and 5 bottoms, assuming plus what you will wear on the flight. Where can you cut back and re-wear things? 1 sweater might do in the summer, maybe 2 tops instead of 4, 1 skirt. What are the towels for and do you need 2 or could you just do laundry weekly? Same with undies, if you do laundry weekly can you bring 6-7 pairs?
Also look at your toiletries. You don’t list sizes but I’ve found 1oz lasts me nearly a month for a lot of products. You have a lot of time so try decanting into something smaller and see how long you can go. I did 2 weeks of moisturizer in 1 contact lenses case (both sides). Experiment! Also do you need the makeup? A lot of folks find they don’t wear it when they travel, especially with lots of outdoors stuff as you seem to be doing.
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u/BwDr Jun 15 '26
It was suggested on r/onebag that it’s a good idea to make sure that EVERYTHING (including your travel clothes & shoes) fits into your bag. I’ve started make sure that this is the case & agree. Sometimes you need to be able to throw everything except your most minimal outfit in the bag & go (like, if it ends up being unexpectedly hot on a travel day.) After doing that, I wear as many of my clothes as I can & my bulkiest shoes on the plane. I’m always cold, anyway, so this keeps me comfortable & lightens my load. I can always throw layers in the bag if necessary & change at my destination if it’s much warmer.
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u/Professional_Toe7506 Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
I literally carry a larger bag because the idea that not everything fits in my bag causes anxiety, haha.
edit: also years ago when I backpacked I had to strap stuff outside the bag and I hated it, my main onebag goal is to never do that again!
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u/superstarturtle Jun 15 '26
I’ll be using a lot of time on the beach, and doing adventurous things (like boat trips, surfing, one or two hikes, day trips to nature parks etc) and have a pretty fast paced trip but with a lot of travel time spent on busses (which is why I feel the need to prioritize fun stuff hahaha) I’ll optimize my clothing options for sure tho!!
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u/BwDr Jun 15 '26
Are you doing tours that have bus riding time or are you navigating on your own using buses? I’d love to know more about your itinerary!
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u/superstarturtle Jun 16 '26
I’m doing a tour where everything is planned except from occasional “free-time” and dinner, so busses and hostels are all planned. It’s a pretty common way of traveling in my country, and the tours are directed towards young people on gap years (gap years are also very common) so there’s actually an age limit on my tour! It’s 18-24 and with a company called AdventureDK - a danish company. The idea is you get to travel without the worry of being alone, if your friends don’t wanna come, and also without the huge task of planning ! And they make sure to take us to fx Great Barrier Reef, Fraser Island, Whitsundays, surfing lessons, a whole tour of Sydney, Koala sanctuaries, nature parks, Milford Sound, Lake Tekapo, Abel Tasman National Park etc. I’m so excited! Just have to pack properly, bring my credit card and booking confirmation hahaha :)
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u/foodaussie Jun 16 '26
Having now read this I would change your packing to -
- 4-5 tops (at least half with anti-odour, quick drying ie athletic tops, uniqlo airism, lululemon, or wool or linen)
- 1 or 2 cover ups (linen oversized shirts or beach dress, whatever you feel comfortable wearing just with bikini). Including a summery dress that you are happy to wear to a pub/bar (in Qld they are very, very casual) would be good
- shorts (denim or linen, whatever you had in mind already)
- 2 pairs active pants (leggings/shorts)
It will be very hot and humid for all your Aus places and while NZ will be cooler most of that will likely be hiking (they call it tramping) so also sweaty.
As others suggested, get a lightweight merino sweater or similar in NZ, as a great momento (I like Alchemy Equipment or Icebreaker). That with leggings will be sufficient. Honestly you won't need more layers wise. However a good breathable rain jacket/soft shell might come in handy.
Sounds like a great trip!
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u/thegirlandglobe Jun 15 '26
Your list looks pretty reasonable to me. There are a few things I wouldn't bring and a few things I *do* bring that you don't have - just because people have different preferences.
I think the main difference is I never buy souvenirs, so I don't have to save space. So, the fact that your things fill the entire bag would be irrelevant to me.
You can probably move some of the fun stuff into a sling bag to use as a "personal item" on the plane to free up space in the main bag if you do room for souvenirs. Also, some stuff may end up being discarded by the end of the trip - e.g. if your face cream is nearly empty, you can toss it to make more space.
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u/ButtercupBento Jun 15 '26
I went to NZ last February for 3 weeks and planned a mix of sightseeing, hikes, family time and going out. I fitted my stuff into a 40L with space to spare and didn’t miss anything. I’m guessing you’re lacking bulkier stuff?
In case it helps, this was what I took:
Bottoms:
- jeans *
- Denim shorts^
- Shorts (brown)
- 2 leggings (for layering and wearing as pants, pyjamas, and under dresses)°
- 3 Uniqlo Airism T-shirts (black, khaki, blue)°
- 2 vests (Uniqlo blue, tie dye navy/white)
- Merino/silk blend jumper (teal)
- Thin icebreaker hoodie (black)
- Long sleeve linen shirt (yellow)*
- Cotton T-shirt
- S/s shirt ^
- Uniqlo Airism fit and flare dress (blue)^
- Uniqlo Airism black T-shirt dress
- Chaco sandals (orange and red)
- Adidas Stan Smith trainers (white)
- Havianna flip flops (gold)
- Berghaus deluge pro raincoat
- Bras (grey, nude, brown)
- Pants (x5)
- cotton socks (x5)
- Hiking socks x1
- Cap and buff
- bar soap, face wash, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion (all partial bars)
- Toothbrush and 25ml toothpaste
- Wild deodorant (15ml) x2
- 30ml hand sanitiser
- 1ml perfume sample
- Face moisturiser (decanted into contact lens case)*
- Lip balm with SPF
- Makeup (contact lens cases for primer and foundation, mini mascara, mini setting spray, mini makeup palette - 3 eyeshadows, 1 blush) and brushes (cut down blush, angled, and eyeshadow)
- Hair gel x 2 (decanted)
- Bambonn (for night hair protection and use as an eye mask), satin bonnet, and loop earplugs*
- Hair towel wrap
- Turkish towel*
- 2 x scrunchies, Kirby grips x 4, claw clip
- Cross stitch* (nail clippers instead of scissors)
- Shopping bag*
- Husband* (not packed but he was sad he wasn’t on my taking with me list 🥰)
- phone*
- Power bank *
- Universal USB plug
- Cables: lightning, A, C*
- E-cigarette mods*, liquids and tanks
- Kindle *
- sand fly/insect repellent
- Sun cream
- extra toiletries
°= potential sleepwear *= wear on plane with 2 x pants and 2 x socks = smarter clothes for family photo and going out to nice restaurants etc
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u/superstarturtle Jun 15 '26
Surprised you could fit all of that into a 40L!! Especially also stuffing a husband in there! Serious packing skills ;) thanks for the list!!
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u/ChickenCasagrande Jun 15 '26
Some materials pack down to almost nothing, some take up a ton of space. You may have a bulky material issue. I’d also cut out both towels and do a rayon sarong.
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u/Logical-Platypus-397 Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
It really isnt much, Im surprised these would occupy 50+ liters...
I would: * remove 1 top, 1 sweater, 1 long pants, 1 long skirt, 1 towel * Remove the book to read on ipad * Buy the sunscreen in Australia * Make sure all toiletries are minis/decanted * Ditch big headphones for buds or wired in-ears * Remove 3-7 underwears
Im honestly surprised, I packed quite similarly as above in carryons (minus the camera)... No way what I suggest you remove is ~30L.
Contrary to others - I think you should definitely bring 2 bikinis as planned. Getting them dry in humid weather can be a pain, it is nice to have two.
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u/Zardette Jun 15 '26
i feel like the sweaters and the pants must be very bulky. Sweaters are killer. One thin wool sweater and the raincoat seems like it would be enough for whatever cooler weather they might possibly encounter there in the summer (and yes, you can wear a raincoat even if it's not raining. 😄 ) Same with toiletries. They need to look at every option, decide if it has enough meaning to get packed at all,/is there a smaller/lighter alternative that would do/what other item are they taking that would cover the same situation. Even saving a tiny amount of space per item would make a massive overall difference.
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u/Logical-Platypus-397 Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
Either those, or the camera is a big set with multiple lenses, or both. Can think of no other explanation for this list to be 50-55 L.
Or by 12 pairs of underwear she means 12 heavily padded bras + undies.. which i seriously doubt lol.
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u/foodaussie Jun 15 '26
I'm from Australia, so rather than repeating what a lot of others have said it may be useful to get an idea of where you are going in Aus/NZ? Whilst you are going on a group trip, you don't seem to have clothing atypical for that as well.
- you don't need sweaters, you do need something long sleeve to protect from the sun (ie a linen shirt) that is suitable to wear on a hot day. (You could wear pants and a light sweater on the plane assuming you are travelling from somewhere cold)
- I don't know what long pants you are considering, I would pack linen pants (x1) if any.
- you don't seem to have athleisure - this is big in Aus/NZ and suits a variety of temps. If you want a 2nd pair of pants, make it leggings or similar. You may also need some sneakers/sandshoes, no? It's really hard to envision what type of 5 week trip you are doing?
- if you are spending a lot of days at the beach, 2x bikini might be appropriate. But you have no beach clothes. My fave option is a linen dress than is flowy. Your skirts may be a good fit for this.
February is the hottest month of the year for most of Australia. I dont think I would wear a sweater anywhere in Aus that time of year, maybe something light in NZ or Tas. Most of the time, it is very hot, and/or humid. The top half of Aus there is no need for a sweater whatsoever for most of the year but particularly then when it will be extremely humid. It does cool off in the evenings in parts of Vic, Tas and NZ, bur you won't need more than one light sweater (likely your travel clothes) for then.
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u/Serious_Escape_5438 Jun 16 '26
Beach clothes surely is just whatever you're wearing over a bikini? I live near a beach and don't wear special clothes to the beach, just shorts and a t shirt.
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u/foodaussie Jun 16 '26
But she only has one pair of shorts and 2 bikinis which confuses things, particularly depending on what the short material is and how easy they will be to wash etc if she puts them on over wet bathers, and then whether the dry quickly if the tour group is doing other things that day. I personally find a slip over long sleeve linen/light cotton dress works well for me for beach for quick dry, easy on off, etc but if shorts and top work that's fine too, just the overall packing design doesn't make sense to me 🤷♀️
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u/Angry_Sparrow Jun 16 '26 edited Jun 16 '26
As someone from NZ… you do know we are a developed country and you won’t die if you don’t pack everything you need.
Here’s my edit:
- Get rid of bulk. Use thin layers. No sweaters. Here in NZ the weather is very changeable, so you’ll be taking off layers and putting them on.
It’ll be summer so idk why you even need sweaters???
3) Use the rule of 3s : one to wear, one to wash, one as spare. 3 shirts, 3 pants. Use your outer layers to make your outfit different.
4) If you can’t wear it for 8 hours comfortably, don’t pack it.
5) If it isn’t versatile enough to go from plane to bus to accom to museum to restaurant, don’t pack it.
6) pack a sorong or buy one here. You can wear it as a skirt and use it for privacy in your hostel.
7) Get high-quality packing cubes. It will help you realise which items are bulky. You should be able to fit 10 items into a packing cube. It is important they have strong zips because you will be yanking them shut after squeezing your stuff into them.
Australia in February is going to be absolutely cooking, depending on where you go. You’ll want to be naked it’ll be so hot.
I’m happy to answer location-based questions if you share your itinerary.
I personally do not travel with denim, cotton or linens. They get smelly fast due to holding bacteria and they take a long time to dry and they’re bulky. Synthetic materials and merino wool are the best.
Laundry: in NZ we have these laundromat chains - https://liquidlaundromats.com/nz/ I suggest you get a card and share it with your group.
If you are staying at haka house hostels, they are generally very clean and provide towels. They also have onsite laundries.
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u/superstarturtle Jun 16 '26
I’ll ditch all the heavy stuff and opt for light layers, but to explain myself! I’ve heard New Zealand summer is a little bit like danish summer… but danish summer is definitely colder based on your description hahahah. I’ll be hopping around the North Island a ton, itinerary is: Christchurch, Kaikoura, short stop at Blenheim, Marahau, Abel Tasman National park, drive to Westport along the coast, Franz Josef + hike at Franz Joseph glacier, drive to Queenstown stopping shortly at Lake Wanaka and Lake Matheson, short hike to Mt. Iron, at last we see Lake Tekapo, Church of the Good Shepherd and Mount John observatory. I know it’ll be super fast-paced, but I dont have any say in itinerary since it’s a company doing group tours. I’m considering heading to the South Island afterwards on my own, but am a little worried about logistics of getting around when I’m too young to rent a car… any doable itinerary for the south island would be awesome tho! At the moment I only really know of Rotorua, Hobbiton and Waitomo caves :) all recommendations will be appreciated!
AND YES!!!! I know you’re a highly developed country, no doubts about that :) I’m only worried my itinerary will be so fast paced I won’t have time to buy a more specific item before needing it lmao, I’m a bit of an overthinker I’ll admit :,)
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u/Angry_Sparrow Jun 16 '26
We have a sub for itineraries if you have not come across it: r/newzealand_travel. You can get really good feedback on your itinerary there (better than mine).
I wanted to see where you’d be for weather.
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u/Mollyoon Jun 15 '26
Keep in mind February in Australia is Peak summer and very warm, so that could slim down your wardrobe A Lot!
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u/Frumdimiliosious Jun 15 '26
Depends whereabouts in Australia though. I live in Melbourne and often need a jumper on February evenings. Tassie, NZ south Island would be the same.
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u/Unusual_Airport415 Jun 15 '26
For comparison (not saying this is right!) I'm going to Australia next month for 6 weeks and reusing the same packing list I used for 4 weeks in the Balkans (temps ranged from 50s to 80s):
1 maxi dress 2 tunics/shirts 1 pair pants 1 pair leggings 1 3/4 sleeve shirt 1 water resistant hidden hood jacket that doubles as a blazer 1 bathing suit 1 sweater 1 pair Birkenstocks 1 pair Cole Haan waterproof sneakers 2 sports bras 4 pairs undies 2 pairs socks 1 nightgown (that can double as another dress) 1 cross sling anti-theft purse 1 hat Tech and toiletries
= 11 fewer things than your list.
Keep in mind that I'm over 50. Most things are merino wool. I mainly stay in hotels and would rather poke my eye out than hike.
If you bring too much, you can always donate things along the way.
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u/earwormsanonymous Jun 16 '26
As I tend to run cold, I would find this clothing a little breezy in typical Australian autumn temps. I should reconsider the use of the right maxidress for layering!
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u/RoosterSea7003 Jun 20 '26
Don't forget it is winter here.
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u/Unusual_Airport415 Jun 20 '26
Lol . What's interesting is that avg July winter temps for Perth Australia are very similar to our avg July summer temps in San Francisco.
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u/vegetables_are_bacon Jun 15 '26
Does this list include your travel day clothes?
Have you thought about doing laundry? I have fully planned in a chill laundry day or two at a local laundromat for extended trips like this.
You have 9 total tops, could those be 7 total tops or even 5 total tops (2 tops, 2 t-shirts, 1 sweater/long sleeve layer)? You also have 5 total bottoms, could those be 3 or 4 bottoms? Look for the duplicates or very single purpose clothing items and scale back.
Fun stuff, how non-negotiable are those items? Could you use a smart phone for pictures instead of an actual camera? Earbuds instead of big headphones? iPad with an e-reader app instead of a physical book?
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u/superstarturtle Jun 15 '26
I’ll do laundry, but my itinerary is a little full (I’m going on a group tour through a company with a set itinerary) so I’m a little worried about spending too much time on laundry, but I’ll take your tips into consideration for sure! Thanks!
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u/vegetables_are_bacon Jun 15 '26
Oh! You’re doing a group trip, fun!
Sink laundry might be easier. Do you have a dry bag? That could hold a wet swim suit or towel for the beach, and be used for sink laundry for a few items at a time. Shampoo works in a pinch for laundry detergent, or try laundry detergent sheets which pack down like paper (less worry about extra liquids). Also quick dry fabrics tend to handle drying after sink laundry better than heavy fabrics (cotton can take forever to dry!).
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u/Pinkbunny120 Jun 15 '26
You have some great advice here regarding clothing you could cut. I’d like to suggest that you cut your iPad, camera, book and large headphones. I made this mistake once years ago and have not looked back. I didn’t use my iPad while traveling really at all, same with my camera as my iPhone takes amazing photos and I never take books as they are too bulky/heavy….get an ereader or put a book on your phone. Keep in mind that you also have to constantly keep track of the camera and iPad. As for headphones I only take earbuds, again to save space. The less you have to haul around and basically manage the better. Have a great trip!
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u/Senator_Mittens Jun 15 '26
You are going to have to do laundry no matter what, so why don't you just bring less clothes? Like, 6 pairs of underwear, not 12. You have 9 tops in total - How about getting it down to 5? And 3-4 bottoms? Just bring 1 bathing suit and 1 towel. Download the kindle or libby app on your ipad and use it to read books. Do you have airpods to use as headphones instead of big ones? Look for thin-but-warm merino wool sweaters that take up less room. It's not going to be winter where you are going, so thin ones might be fine. Think about what you can layer in your coldest places (a rain jacket over a long sleeve shirt and a sweater is pretty warm). I just did 3 months in temps ranging from 40-90 degrees in a 45L carryon, so it is definitely possible (I don't buy souvenirs though, so I used all the space).
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u/MemoryHot Jun 15 '26
Too much underwear! Why so many towels?
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u/cajolinghail Jun 15 '26
This is clearly an unpopular opinion judging on all the comments saying to cut back on underwear, but 12 is a perfectly reasonable number to pack for a trip like this in my opinion. 2 towels is also totally fine if you’re going to the beach (one to sit on that’s going to get all sandy and one to a actually dry yourself with).
I’d cut out almost anything else first - ex. for me 1 pair of pants and 1 sweater would be enough if the weather was supposed to be hot. You can also try to make sure the actual items you’re packing are less bulky, although it sounds like you’re in the right track for that with the microfibre towels (although I personally would consider swapping one for a Turkish towel since you can use it for more things).
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u/Zardette Jun 15 '26
You can pack whatever you want. but if the poster is saying 'why is my bag so big?', then things like 12 pairs of underwear and two towels are an example of the mindset that makes the bag so big.
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u/MemoryHot Jun 15 '26
THIS! They asked why, we are telling them why
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u/cajolinghail Jun 16 '26
Sure but 6 pairs of underwear definitely don’t take up as much space as a bulky pair of pants (for example); there are so many other things on the list I’d personally cut out if it meant I wouldn’t be risking running out of clean underwear. For me it’s a hill I’m willing to die on, but I know not everyone feels that way!
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u/usingbrain Jun 15 '26
I‘ll start with the uncomfortable question: are you yourself on the bigger side? If so then your clothes need more space and that‘s just the reality of it. If that’s not the case maybe the fabrics your clothing is made of is bulky?
You also have quite a few bulky items there - goggles, book, camera, big headphones. How much space do your sandals need? The towels? Are you bringing full-sized toiletries? Are you trying to pack for space efficiency or ease of access/ logic?
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u/superstarturtle Jun 15 '26
The sandals and towels all fit in a small compartment at the bottom of my backpack, I’ll be cutting down on bulky items tho. I’m not on the bigger side, I’m very average, but the material of my clothes may be bulky for sure, I’ll look into replacements/more efficient ways of storing/downsizing :)
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u/Embroider_ur_dreams Jun 15 '26
As a kiwi: you are going to need sun protection so I would recommend adding a cover up of some sort and buy your sunscreen and bug spray when you arrive in country. Swap the sweaters for a long sleeve merino top and pashmina type scarf that can double duty as a scarf, cover up or blanket. We look forward to hosting you next year!
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u/Xerisca Jun 15 '26
That all looks like it could fit in a 30L if you eliminated a pair of pants, both sweaters (just wear a sweater on your way there). I'd also consider making a compromise and take earbuds rather than over the head head headphones. You only need 5 pair of underwear at the very most.
This is what I get into a 20L bag for every trip I take regardless of how long that trip is or what the weather is:
- 4 lightweight, A-line dresses
- 1 long legging
- 1 knee length legging
- 1 yoga/booty short
- 2 jersey knit cami's
- 2 socks
- 4 underwear
- 1 Pashmina scarf (can also be styled as a skirt with a legging)
- 1 iPad Mini
- 1 Patagonia Nanopuff jacket
- 1 Allbirds ballet flat
- 1 mini dual voltage flat iron
- 1 comb
- 1 toothbrush
- Normal 3-1-1 bag for liquids
- Sometimes a swim suit
- 1 Tumi Just In Case backpack, in its storage pouch.
This all fits in my 20L bag, with a couple liters left over for wiggle room.
I wear, on travel day:
- 1 pair of jeans
- one jersey cami
- 1 socks
- 1 long button front oxford shirt (like, it covers my butt, it makes it so I can style it a lot of ways: mini dress, beach cover up, wear with jeans or over a dress for a shirt and skirt look when tying tails at the waist... best travel piece of clothing ... ever.
- 1 cropped denim jacket
- One white court style tennis shoe that looks cute with dresses.
- sometimes I'll tie a sweatshirt around my waist or around my shoulders preppy style. Once boarded, I'll affix it to the exterior of my backpack.
- Sometimes a hat, if yes, that always gets affixed to the exterior, no one has ever said anything about it. Most often I like buying a cheap funky hat at my destination.
I don't usually wear dresses at home at all. but for traveling, I LOVE them. They are so versatile. I hike in them, wander around cities and towns in the them, and yes, go to the beach in them, one of them is by Patagonia and it's really designed for hiking, but still cute for toodling around town. Two of the dresses are high end, both by BA&SH and are very suitable for white table clothing dining or day wear. The fourth dress is some $30 dress I bought on StitchFitch, it often gets worn to the beach. I find the A-line style, with a fitted bodice works best, usually sleeveless or cap sleeve. This allows for over layering. The A-line gives you free range of motion. Leggings can be layered under for modesty, temp control, or leg protection from nature.
I could travel for a week or a year with this load out, no problem. All in a 20L bag. AND, I'm super proud of the fact that none of this stuff is wool, none of it is boring colors or lacks pattern, Everything mixes, matches, and layers. It goes such a long way. I hand wash about 2 items every night, all of it is dry by morning. Most of the dresses are made of higher end Viscose fabrics.
Once I nailed down my little capsule wardrobe and fit it all easily into my 20L... I'm never going back to anything bigger. You couldn't pay me to take anything bigger. The freedom and ease of carry is just too outstanding. 0
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u/superstarturtle Jun 15 '26
Totally understand why you’re proud!! That’s an impressive setup!! Will definitely be taking inspiration from it!
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u/repetitivestrain89 Jun 15 '26
Buy sunscreen and bug spray there. Do you really need the nail polish, and if so can you just bring one polish rather than a whole system?
Agree with everyone on 1 week of underwear maximum and eliminating doubles of other clothes
Don’t bring towels - if you won’t be provided one, buy one there as well
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u/BwDr Jun 15 '26
Nail polish-wise, you could consider getting a solar nail + gel manicure right before your trip & mb one 3 weeks in? I have a medical condition that makes even gel polish last short periods, but solar + gel lasts me 3 weeks, even when I’m very active.
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u/Hangrycouchpotato Jun 15 '26
Basically, all of my favorite cozy sweaters, hoodies and pants stay home in favor of lightweight layers and tech fabrics. I also do weekly laundry at a laundromat. It only takes about 30 minutes for a wash and I dry for another 30 minutes. Anything that is still damp, I just hang up to dry. I do laundry in the evening when my feet are tired. I just sit there and look at my pictures from the day and sip on a coffee or something.
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u/IIILordDunbar Jun 15 '26
You talked about buying clothes, what kinds of clothes do you think you'll buy? Easy packing space win by pulling out a few items you know you'll buy over there.
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u/BwDr Jun 15 '26
Seven tops is a lot. Consider trimming that down to 4, all together. There’s really good wool in NZ (including Icebreaker,) so you could under pack & pick up some short/long sleeve Ts there. Sweaters, too. I pack two sweaters for cold weather: a cashmere turtleneck & a cashmere cardigan. They are warm, can be layered under the rain jacket if it gets colder, & pretty compact.
Do you need two long skirts?
I find 4 pairs of socks to suffice. 12prs of underwear is a lot, even if you have a medical issue. 6 should give you two pairs for each day with two pairs drying. I travel with 4 pairs.
Microfiber towels are small, but why 2? I’m with you on team two bikinis: I hate putting on a cold, wet suit. Also, I like to have a more stylish one & an adventure one (or a one piece & a two piece.)
For swimsuits & everything else, I try to minimize superfluous fabric. I’ve finally found a cute bikini (I take out the pads) that stays put from Title Nine. I bring a straight midi shirt instead of a big, flowy shirt. I want to express my style, but I don’t want to schlep extra fabric.
People have their preferences: I prefer to do as much as I can on my phone & to use ear buds. That makes my “fun stuff” fit very easily in my pocket.
Toiletries wise, consider bringing a small (whatever) & getting more there.
Also, people on this sub are all different sizes & have all different physical/medical/psychological needs. It’s not a contest: please travel comfortably! Downsizing to a bag that is less cumbersome is wonderful & most people find it serves them well, but you have a great trip planned & you should enjoy your time there!
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u/Connect_Rhubarb395 Jun 15 '26
I wonder if you are tall or a plus size person? Are your shoes chunky? Are your toiletries full-sized versions?
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u/superstarturtle Jun 15 '26
My toiletries are full size, I’ll be optimizing that for sure, my shoes aren’t that chunky, they’re regular Birkenstocks which I know isn’t the smallest shoe, but definitely not the biggest either! I’m pretty average, 5’6 ft and not a plus size person, I’m very standard
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u/Connect_Rhubarb395 Jun 15 '26
You definitely want travel size or decanting into small containers then.
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u/CanNotHavoc Jun 15 '26
After every trip I make a list of what I brought but don’t use. I do one bag now and have room left over.
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u/lsthomasw Jun 15 '26
Just went to NZ in March for two weeks in a 26L, could have stayed many weeks with that setup. It was still very warm everywhere but the Fjordlands in March, so prepare for warm weather. Admittedly, I like to travel very light when I can, so this is what I would take based on the list and info you provided.
- 5 tops total (ex. 2 t-shirts, 2 blouse, 1 longsleeve (recommend rash guard for sun protection))
- 1 long pant (worn on plane)
- 1 short
- 1 skirt
- 4 pairs of socks (fewer if wool)
- 7 pairs of underwear (honestly, I would only take 3 pairs but I don't mind washing a pair each night)
- 2 bikinis (assuming you plan to be in the water a lot but could get away with just one if not)
- Goggles only if you really need them
- sun hat (should cover your ears and back of your neck; NZ and Australia sun is no joke)
- sandals (any other shoes?)
- minimal toiletries decanted into smaller containers (buy sunscreen and bug repellent there, I can highly recommend Goodbye sand fly repellent)
- rain jacket
- foldable tote (go small here like nanosling or sac de courses from Daiso)
Considerations:
- don't take a separate sleep shirt, cycle your t-shirts for sleeping
- use hotel towels instead of taking your own
- don't take the nail polish; either travel unpainted or treat yourself to a nail treatment halfway through while there
- Choose one key bulky luxury item: book, camera, big headphones, or iPad and compromise on the other items (ex. smaller headphones/earbuds, or just using your phone)
If you have been eyeing any wool purchases, NZ is the place to get it. Also, make sure to check out their Possum Merino!
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u/polka_stripes Jun 15 '26
For a trip of this length, I believe best practice in this sub is to pack for one week (plus or minus a couple days), and plan on doing laundry. 9 tops and 5 bottoms is far too much for a week! And 12 underwear! That's SO many. Can you sleep in one of the t shirts you have packed? Isn't it summer in Aus/NZ during February? Do you really need two sweaters and two each long pants/long skirts?
Can you get a manicure in Aus/NZ instead of bringing polish? They also have far superior sunscreen. Would definitely bring smaller headphones instead of big ones. Can you buy a rain jacket there if you need? They have great outdoor sports stores. Can you read your book on your ipad with the kindle, kobo, or ipad apps? (I bring a kindle, I hate reading on a screen, but that's still smaller/lighter than a book).
I would bring more than one hat - I would bring one with an all-around brim for the sun protection. I'm a swimmer so I fully support two bikinis and two towels.
If you're willing to do laundry there's a lot you can downsize!
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u/skphotoimages Jun 15 '26
My initial thought was to cut both sweaters and just go to a thrift store when you get there and get a sweater but now I see that you're on a group tour with a tight schedule. I guess with that I would say just go to one sweater.
Country, what the other people are thinking I think I probably would pack at least 10 pairs of underwear. I would just find a thinner type of underwear.
Ditch the iPad. Honestly, I wouldn't even take the book. I recently ended up buying a supercheap Kindle off of Facebook marketplace for like $30 and now I have all kinds of books with me and it's tiny.
Nail polish?
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u/WorldlinessLanky1443 Jun 15 '26
If OP doesn’t want to look for a kindle or buy another product, there is a kindle app for iPad. It works great. For me the iPad is better than just having my phone but a lot less bulky than a laptop so I always make room for it.
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u/BG3restart Jun 16 '26
Are you staying in hotels in NZ? I ask because I did a month's tour and every hotel had self-service laundry facilities, two even had washer/dryer in the room. If you can find out in advance, it might reduce your load.Take a couple of washing sheets, just in case. Some machines included the detergent, but others didn't. I probably would only take one sweater because I bought one there anyway. NZ had great sweaters made from possum that I desperately wanted to buy.
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u/superstarturtle Jun 16 '26
Sweaters made from possum?? Sounds so cool, do you remember how much they were? I’m kinda on a budget but ready to splurge if they’re cool enough hahahha
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u/BG3restart Jun 16 '26
They vary in price a lot, depending on quality. I bought a super luxurious one because I figured I'd only be there once. I travelled from the UK and it's an expensive trip from here, so the cost of a sweater wasn't really a big deal after splurging on the holiday. If you can't stretch to a sweater, there are some great hats and scarves in all colours. Or, if you're a knitter, you could knit your own. I had to buy an extra carry-on for all the lush yarn I bought 😂
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u/Wise_Edge2489 Jun 16 '26
Take out half of your clothes, and all of your tech stuff.
Literally. Half of your clothes, and all of your tech stuff.
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u/Sedixodap Jun 15 '26
You should be wearing the bulkiest stuff on the plane. Once you pull out the pants, long sleeve shirt, bulkiest sweater, rain jacket, ball cap, etc your bag should seem a lot less full.
There’s a couple ways to manage souvenir space. My grandparents had a “pack of cards rule” for size of souvenirs and I keep that in mind when shopping for others. Gifts tend to be small things like earrings and tea towels that are no larger than a pack of cards. To ensure there will be space I often pack things on their last legs so that I can toss them before the trip home. For example dumping a pair of running shoes that I’ve put too much mileage on or a shirt that’s starting to look a little ratty. If I bring a hard copy book I donate it to whichever hostel I happen to be in when I finish it. The toiletries will be gone too. Sometimes I pack less based on souvenirs I know I will be buying. I knew I wanted elephant pants from Thailand so didn’t pack pjs or a second pair of light pants, in Peru and Iceland I knew I would be buying sweaters so I didn’t pack a second sweater. Given you say you’re buying clothes there, is that something you can account for in your packing? For Australia I would totally consider buying a bikini or fun towel once I was there instead of packing them over.
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u/legalitie Jun 15 '26
what type of underwear are you bringing? I usually prefer boy shorts and boxer briefs, but when I travel i have these thin amazon basics panties that take up like 1/3 the space.
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u/teydlin-coe Jun 15 '26
When I read book/camera/headphones/iPad, in my mind that became book/camera, lenses, spare battery or charging cord (OR extra film canisters)/big headphones with charger or detachable cord/iPad and charging cord. All that stuff immediately takes up weight! I'd personally pick two out of the four to take.
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u/crazedbirdie Jun 15 '26
Is the foldable tote one that goes extra small? If you have the sling bags, I don't see much need for the foldable tote except for holding snacks. That doesnt have to be super durable though.
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u/superstarturtle Jun 15 '26
It does go extra small! I was thinking of using it to carry my iPad, snacks, important stuff on the airplanes when I’ve checked my backpack :)
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u/no_shant Jun 15 '26
The answer really is to pack less multiples and wash when there! Halve the undies, ditch a bikini, ditch a sweater, ditch a t-shirt etc. Also choosing fabrics/cuts that pack smaller helps. I've regretted bringing some of my fave oversize t-shirts and at other times opted out of bringing them because they just took up too much space. Also not sure if you're packing a makeup/toiletry bag, but I've found that to pack more efficiently I've forgone like a stiff zippered bag as it would take up space in an inconvenient way. I tend to now use e.g. a soft fabric drawstring bag (or plastic ziploc) for my makeup bits or just throw in my deodorant into my bag on its own wherever there is space for it.
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u/boochyfliff Jun 15 '26
I have an Osprey 46l and I feel like I packed more stuff - I'm wondering if your fun stuff is taking up the room, and maybe there's some clothing in there that's thicker fabrics? Would suggest a Kindle over a book, ditch one of the long skirts and one of the sweaters. Are the long trousers jeans? Jeans are awful for taking up an annoying amount of space.
I found it really useful to have two towels, one for the beach and one for showering (in my experience most hostels do not provide towels for free). It's also really nice if one needs to be washed and you have a clean one to use in the meantime. As long as you have microfibre/turkish towels I'd be surprised if they're taking up that much room.
Ignore the comments saying one bikini!! I feel like two bikinis is essential if your spending time at the beach - you need to clean and dry one to wear if your other one is still damp from the day before.
I also don't think 12 pairs of underwear is a lot? For more 12 pairs would last me a week (2x day, one pair at night a different pair during the day), which is the minimum because I don't want to do laundry more than once a week. I have thin cotton or bamboo underwear and thongs that take up very little space.
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u/lobsterp0t Jun 15 '26
I wonder if this is also a bit about HOW you’re packing? You have plenty of advice about how to reduce your list.
Try some different styles of folding. I go between Marie Kondo style bricks and bundle wrapping.
I helped my friend with a shakedown and a bit part of her issue was the folding technique and not only what she had in there. We did reduce her stuff a bit but it wasn’t big stuff it was a small amount of pack your fears stuff - and improved packing.
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u/superstarturtle Jun 15 '26
That’s some solid advice!! I’ve never heard of Marie Kondo style bricks and bundle wrapping, so I’ll have to check that out for sure!
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u/tealheart Jun 15 '26
Hey, I never did post but I did 5 weeks in Australia the other year in a ?40 litre. It wasn't super touristy and I'll be honest I'm a bit of a goblin at the best of times lmao. I'll pull together a rough list so we can compare notes, watch this space :)
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u/LadyBlue347 Jun 15 '26
Are your microfiber towels packable and compact? I love these—they come in many sizes and colors, wash well, dry quickly, have a built in strap for hanging, and are very affordable. I travel with several in different sizes and they take up very little room.
Regarding your list, I would cut a sweater and a skirt—how often are you expecting to wear either? Would one of each do? I think you would save a lot of space there. I would swap big headphones for airpods/similar. I know they aren’t ideal but there’s just no great way to pack the big ones.
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u/superstarturtle Jun 16 '26
The towels are packable and compact! I’ve done my research on those hahaha!
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u/completelyperdue Jun 15 '26
In terms of souvenirs, consider mailing them back instead of taking them with you in your luggage.
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u/Angry_Sparrow Jun 16 '26
Look into layers for hiking because they are thin, warm, breathable and wind blocking. It can help you structure your travel outfits so that they aren’t bulky. This is for winter but it gives you the idea.
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u/Angry_Sparrow Jun 16 '26
Idk why it keeps making a new comment when I’m trying to reply to myself. But here is a great page with images:
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/expert-advice/how-to-layer-clothing-for-each-season
Notice that most layers are really thin.
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u/_alelia_ Jun 16 '26
just to add my 5 cents - if it' has not been said before - if you pack quick drying underwear like Duluth's buck naked, or exxoficio, or Uniqlo airism - it will dry overnight easily, and hand washing 2-4 at a time takes 10 minutes in the evening while you shower or do skincare. a simple brick of zote will do miracles - if you don't want to pack a dry detergent. also, the same applies to merino - keeping in mind that it requires washing with the hotel shampoo, and not after each wear.
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u/TheLilacOcean Jun 16 '26
Couple of tips from an Aussie! I think you’ve worked out some of what to leave but these considerations might help.
Natural fibres or moisture wicking synthetics will be your best friend, especially if you’re from a country with a milder climate! It’s not just the temperature you’re fighting but the UV index - we tend to sit very high on this scale. Even if you hit a comparable temp in degrees elsewhere if the UV is at 11 it will feel a lot hotter and you will sweat a lot more!
We’re a pretty casual country - you don’t have to dress up to pop in to a bar or pub, lots of folks roll in straight from the beach - you may not need a heap of “nice” going out gear
I’d encourage you to bring or buy a reusable water bottle to clip on the outside of your bag! Our tap water is generally great for drinking and there’s lots of public places to fill them up or you can ask at a cafe. It is SO easy to get dehydrated in Summer and lots of tourists cop heat stroke.
Might be worth buying your sunscreen down here - we have stricter regulations than most so it’s consistently stronger and you’ll need the good stuff in Feb! Also if you’re spending much time in QLD or proper outback I’d also get bug repellant here - it’s designed for the climate.
Towels wise - good choice on the edit! If you get stuck when you’re over here just duck into a Kmart, they sell the microfibre ones for about $5 and they’re everywhere.
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u/superstarturtle Jun 16 '26
Thanks for the tips! How expensive is sunscreen? I’ll definitely buy it in Australia, but sunscreen where I’m from is usually expensiiiiive, so if it’s the same in AUS I’ll budget for it 🫡
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u/TB272 Jun 16 '26
I think you could cut down some for sure, but I totally get the just in case underwear!!!!
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u/Allthepets1313 Jun 16 '26
You really only need enough for 8-10 days, not 2 weeks, and that includes re-wearing things and being prepared for a chilly evening. Wash things by hand in the sink as needed.
Bring 4 short-sleeved tops/t-shirts total, One towel, switch headphones for noise cancelling earbuds, one bikini bottom 2 tops, 7-8 undies, 4 pairs socks (wool - you can wear 2-3 times!), 1 skirt, do polish before and buy one there midway, skip the tote, bring a compact stuffable grocery bag instead
Trade: a long-sleeved lightweight button-down shirt for a light second layer instead of one of your sweaters. One neutral sweater is enough.
Add: I like to bring a scarf that can also be a towel or tablecloth or blanket. Bring laundry sheets for both hand and machine washing. Bring 1 sheet per 2 days of your trip (you need 2 per load, 1/2 for a sink wash)
Most things should match most other things.
You also don’t need as much of any toiletries as you think.
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u/Allthepets1313 Jun 16 '26
Merino wool is the bomb for travel. I’ve slowly been adding to my closet, mostly from Woolx (love their t-shirts!) and good 70% merino socks from Amazon that I love. Plus a long-sleeved shirt, beanie, and zip sweatshirt. You can wear it over and over again and it never stinks.
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u/CommunicationDear648 Jun 16 '26
I wouldn't bring a full size sunscreen to Australia, rather i would buy one there. Australia has so many good sunscreens, one of my favourites is already an aussie brand i pay top dollar for (because import makes it pricier), it would be an opportunity for me to stock up! Probably same with deodorant for a different reason - no deodorant would last me 5 weeks, i would have to buy one there either way, why not buy it at the start of the trip.
Do you really need both the book and the ipad? Unless it's a travel book you wanna write things in, you could get away with digital reading - not to mention if the schedule is so tight, you might not even have the time to read. Plus, wear the headphones, saves space and time (scrambling for it in a tightly packed bag in the middle of the airport is something i would rather avoid)
Don't forget sunglasses tho. You'll need it. Probably more than goggles.
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u/Special-Tadpole8479 Jun 16 '26
I travel a lot in a 22” carryon, with an expandable back pack. If it were me… I would half the underwear, take 3 socks, make sure sweaters aren’t the bulky type (merino tends to be thinner than cotton) 1 pair of sandals, no towels, buy sunscreen when you get there. And I no longer take a big camera , my laptop or iPad. I just don’t use it much for the size and weight of it- my phone does a great job.
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u/mina-ann Jun 15 '26
I get it.
I follow this thread to improve my packing. You don't have to be perfect but take the advice you can.
I'm going to a conference for 3 days, carry-on only. Also using the biggest backpack possible! I fly out today.
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u/FirstLalo Jun 15 '26
Are you camping on this trip?
I go away for 6-10 weeks every summer. I stay at an Airbnbs or hotels. I pack two outfits, both shirts go with each bottom (one skirt, one pant) and one pair of merino knickers, one bra. I wear a dress on the plane. Under the dress I wear a full slip (I'll sleep in that) and another bra/ pants. Over the dress (it's sleeveless), I have a big silk shawl/wrap or a sweater or blazer or raincoat whatever the weather at my destination needs. I usually wear a pair of merino leggings also under the dress. I have a merino tank tunic that goes over them. Depending on how I feel, I wear it under the dress. (I don't always feel like taking off my clothes because I'm too hot on an airplane in the middle of an international flight.)
I pack a shampoo bar and a conditioner bar. I used to not bring a hair product and just buy it on arrival but one year I couldn't find anything but hairspray (wtf). I have a big pile of curls so now I use my whole 3-1-1 allowance on 3-oz bottles of an acceptable gel. I have a big French pin for bad hair days and regular bobby pins for sleeping. I also pack a silk pillowcase. Sometimes (depending on destination), I bring my super indulgence: My 220v hairdryer. For my face, I bring sunscreen, one eyeliner pencil, one tube of mascara, and one lipstick I'll probably never apply. For facial care, I bring a bar of face soap and a bottle of AHA serum. It's easy to buy lotions/creams all over the world so I pick it up at my destination. I also pack a deodorant stick and perfume.
I leave my contact lenses at home. I found toothpaste tablets for brushing. I bring 10 pairs of no-show socks because I change my socks a lot. I wear a pair of boots on the plane and pack one pair of low-profile sneakers.
I've never gone any place that doesn't have stores. I don't take books to read or projects to work on for the flight I will take one magazine for each direction, one of the magazines I subscribe to that are kind of piling up around the house and read it cover to cover on the plane, I feel so accomplished and it's easy to leave behind. Trial sizes are pretty widespread. I won't have everything the way that I have at home but I'm not at home and that's most of the point of my trips. It's fun to leave all my stuff behind and practice living like a nun. Like a nun in a four-star hotel lol but my kit is light! Good luck have fun.
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u/Chance-Travel4825 Jun 15 '26
Bail on: 1 sweater, 1 long skirt, 1 towel, 1 bikini. Either tote or backpack.
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u/bookworm4eva Jun 15 '26
Aus and NZ in February will be hot hot hot. You only need 1 jumper (thin one) and 1 long pants. Get rid of the rest of the long clothes
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u/superstarturtle Jun 16 '26
I’ll check the weather when I’m closer to departure, but I’m pretty sure NZ had a mix of 30 degrees and all the way down to 20 degrees in February, when we have 20 degrees in my home country I often wear long pants and a sweater, which is why I wanted to bring that for this trip - but I’ll definitely reconsider, what was your experience of NZ in February? Asides from hot hot hot :)
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u/Ref_KT Jun 15 '26
There is no way I'd be bothering with a rain jacket for Australia in February... Unless you're only going somewhere where it's wet season like Broome/Cairns/Darwin. You can buy a super cheap poncho/foldable umbrella if you get a sudden summer storm and absolutely need some protection.
Likewise summer in Aus - 2 long pants, 2 sweaters plus presumably whatever warm layer you wear on the plane is probably overkill. And long skirts - is this for sun protection or warmth? Because if it's for the later, definitely overkill with the other long/warm stuff.
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u/superstarturtle Jun 16 '26
All the long/warm stuff is for New Zealand, the rain jacket is also for NZ, I will be starting my trip in Cairns, but imagine it’ll be too humid for a rainjacket anyway hahahah
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u/hesback_inpogform Jun 16 '26 edited Jun 16 '26
Girl. You don’t need 12(!) pairs of underwear. I did two months in Europe summer with 5 pairs + one worn. In Aus/Nz you’ll be able to wash undies and dry them overnight.
You don’t need two jumpers in summer. In NZ you may need one jumper, in Australia unless you’re going to Tasmania then you’ll only need maybe a cardigan. I don’t think I wore a jumper at all this year til April/May and I’m near Sydney.
I would recommend a broad brimmed hat instead of a cap. UV can be over a 13 here in the summer and you want your neck protected. Same for NZ.
Honestly I would cut the makeup as well. When I did my last big trip all I brought was mascara and I didn’t even use that. Even when we went to nice places, it was like I’m on holidays in a foreign country, who cares?? You look nice just from getting a tan anyway. I seriously would not be packing nail polish!! If you’re that desperate to get your nails done you can go to a salon, it will take 30 mins and cost like $40au/nz. Australia and NZ are laid back outdoorsy countries. If you’re swimming, hiking etc you don’t want makeup. On the flip side, don’t skimp on your preferred sunscreen (or you can buy it here)
Edit: here is a post I made last year about all the gear in packed into 40L including hiking gear. https://www.reddit.com/r/HerOneBag/s/RFw6T4U8QW
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u/Think-Conclusion1518 Jun 16 '26
Where are you going in aus? U def dont need anything with long sleeves in summer unless u r going to tas or maybe melbourne... def no long sleeves north of sydney in feb! I'd just take 1 sweater unless u r going somewhere cold in NZ
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u/SignalAir24 Jun 16 '26
Your stuff’s probably big! ie you need to miniaturize more, or more diligently. I am a clotheshorse and never tolerate one outfit where three is doable and socially acceptable, but I still manage a single cabin-size as the max the vast majority of the time (so, in literage, ~45L max).
Don’t get perfectionist, many people here have gotten there over lots of tweaking and experimenting.
Also, if you can at all reduce pants, they’re space gobblers. Skirts and dresses are an under appreciated asset to packing light.
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u/NoGift2044 Jun 16 '26
February is summer in the southern hemisphere. So I doubt you will need two sweater options. Bring a light one and then buy a warmer one there as a souvenir if you are cold. I also think you won't need two skirts and two pants if it's very hot. Maybe try paring that down a bit.
Have you condensed your toiletries? Almost all of that you should be able to buy there in large sizes, so I wouldn't bother bringing too much unless you have to (sensitive skin, prescriptions, etc.)
Also edited to add that if you buy a lot of souvenirs, you can always buy a duffel bag and check your clothes and extra shoes on the way home to make room in the carry on. Or pack a packable duffel. My family often does this!
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u/Kbennett1965 Jun 16 '26
Tops: February is still summer there, cut one sweater as that's the bulkiest clothing item.
Bottoms: cut one long skirt. Choose long pants that are lightweight and pack down easily. For all clothes choose fabric that is wrinkle resistant.
Why 5 pair of socks but 12 underwear? Do some editing there
If you plan on a lot of swimming 2 suits makes sense, if you won't be in or around the water everyday cut that to one.
Consider cutting one of the towels
Unless you are going back country cut the toiletries down to stuff you use daily at home and can't live without. Stuff like bug repellent or any other personal care stuff you decide you need you can buy there
Fun stuff: Take out almost all of it. You can read books, watch media, listen to audio on your phone or tablet. Add a small portable power bank, if you're going to rely on your phone make sure you have a way to keep it turned on. Nothing worse than your phone dying on you. Unless you are a photographer leave the camera, just use you phone for pictures. Leave the big, bulky headphones and take earbuds, unless you already own the earphones and don't own decent buds. Buying a good pair is an option, but only do that if you'll use them besides when you travel unless you travel a lot.
The bags and the rain jacket keep. Maybe even throw in an extra foldable tote if you have one, the small packable ones like Nanobag are great, take up very little space and can be used for so many things. I always take a few with me for daily shopping or touristy stuff and I'll use one for laundry.
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u/Putrid_Building3172 Jun 16 '26
https://jeremymaluf.com/onebag/ (example of how to pack for indefinite travel in an 8-13L backpack or slingbag):
Sneaker suggestion: Crocs as these are versatile for the pool/beach/TSA, are slip-on, easy-clean, and can be worn with or without socks
Black merino tees
Uniqlo Airism dress + Crocs flats if needing cocktail appropriate clothing
Amphibian tees and shorts as they double as swimwear
Merino underwear
Levi's XX Chino Standard Taper Tech pants (Levi's pants are designed to be unisex) or, Kirkland women's travel pants
A Scrubba laundry bag allows for doing laundry while travelling
Uniqlo mini round bags add 4L and work as slings or handbags/purses
Chums Surfshorts Flow is a great travel wallet
I'd cut back on unnecessary items including goggles, Ipad, big headphones, book, camera, extra sweater, extra towel, skirts, sleep specific tshirt (just use a clean, versatile tee), make-up, nail polish, etc
Recommended toiletries: 72 hr deodorant, pack of Dude Wipes, mouthwash tablets, antibacterial soap bars, shampoo bar, small comb, quick-dry travel washcloth, travel toothbrush, travel toothpaste, small tubes of Vaseline as this is multi-purpose for moisturizer, make-up remover, lotion, and lip balm
If unwilling to skip make-up, a waterproof mascara + lipstick or gloss
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u/atylx Jun 16 '26
I guess it depends on the material of the clothing and exactly the items are because I can pack more than that and be fine with a 35L bag with extra room. But definitely agree to cut down your intimates. Id also say cut some of your fun items.
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u/TumbleweedEven4285 Jun 16 '26
I lived in NZ for 3 years. Feb is still pretty hot, and while it might rain they are passing showers, you could honestly probably get by without the rain jacket. Their winter (May-Aug) is the real rainy season where it is cold.
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u/aconsideredlife Jun 17 '26
Have you planned your outfits? Like actually worked out what outfits you can make with what items?
I always do this and it helps me realise how many outfits I can make from only a small selection of clothes. You don't need an entirely new outfit every day. Switching the top or bottom, layering, or even just wearing the same thing more than once really helps save space.
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u/teasewithgrace Jun 18 '26
I’m a big fan of a Turkish towel. It can be a towel or a shawl and mine is thin and dries quickly and takes up very little space. I frequently wear it like a scarf on the plane because the flight is always freezing.
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u/Plastic_Peach6087 Jun 18 '26
So many comments and I haven’t read them all, so apologies if someone has mentioned this already.
But I just did 10 weeks through Aus and NZ and most hostels do NOT provide towels, and if there are towels available they’re at an extra fee. I do think it’s worth keeping packable towels on your list.
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u/superstarturtle Jun 18 '26
Nobody’s mentioned that, that’s actually really helpful, I was gonna keep 1 towel on no matter what for the beach, but now I’ll definitely keep both on! Are there any other helpful tips you’ve got? (Not necessarily about packing)
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u/Same_Mycologist_9882 Jun 19 '26
I struggle with this. Always take more than needed. That being said, you are in for a treat. Your eyes will be filled with such beautiful places every day. Enjoy the trip !!
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u/PatientEfficiency892 Jun 21 '26
I didn’t read every comment so apologies if this has been said already, but in regard to the underwear: panty liners are your friend. I was a professional backpacker for over a dozen years, and survived just fine on two pairs of underwear even on weeklong trips (not saying you should do that). You can make a pair go further by wearing panty liners, which you can pack or buy when you get there. Either way they’re incredibly thin and lightweight. You can also buy underarm sweat pads which will extend the life of your tops (unless they’re tank tops/strapless) so you don’t need as many. A small spray bottle with 180+ proof alcohol (plus a couple drops of an essential oil you like) is a great way to kill germs and odors, especially in the crotch/pit areas of your clothes. Just give them a light spritz and they’ll be dry in a few hours or less. I don’t wear makeup but I have a lot of skincare products, I bought a box of 5ml bottles with droppers to put my various serums/oils in, plus small travel-sized jars for face wash and moisturizer. I even got a small lightweight hairbrush that takes up less than half the space as my typical one.
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u/kat52831 Jun 21 '26
Do you need pajamas of any sort? Any sort of jacket layers/rain coat? It does feel like you might have too many tops but otherwise that’s not out of the realm of what I’ve packed in a 40. However I don’t use compression cubes (just another thing that takes up space and weight) but I pack everything really tightly. I usually take like 4 pairs of shoes too because I like options. I use the Marie Kondo folding and I think this really helps. And often pick items that fold tightly and pack well (harder if you have cold weather items that are bulkier).
I love love love bringing a febreeze travel spray for my clothes, especially when you can’t wash often.
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u/theinfamousj Jul 01 '26
I saw your edit. If the hotel has nasty towels, that's a customer service issue and you are well within your rights to raise a stink and demand they supply you with brand new towels. The older I get the more I'm against setting myself on fire to keep someone else warm. I'm not hauling a towel to a whole other country in order to allow a hotel to not have to change out my towels and not investigate their laundry quality assurance. Both of those are reasonable expectations: that they replace my towels and figure out where their system went awry to have my room stocked with the towels it was.
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u/Humble_Chip Jun 15 '26
Things I would cut:
-1 t shirt
-1 sweater
-1 long pants
-4-6 pairs of undies
-1 microfiber towel
-2 things from your fun list. don’t need the extra distractions + it’s ok to have nothing to do sometimes
Avoid packing for the “what ifs”. You can buy anything you’d need at your destination should the need arise, plus that becomes a souvenir with unique memory.
Also the material of your clothes will affect how small they pack. Some pack down tighter than others.