How to Pack for a Year at ANU

by Alex Moore, Australian National University, Australia

When it comes to packing, I definitely got caught up in thinking about Australia in the summer. However, as I have learnt, Canberra winters are no joke. When you arrive in July, it will be around 10-15 degrees, so you may want to reconsider packing your puffer. It may not sound as cold as the UK, but for some reason, the cold just hits differently out here (and their buildings aren’t as insulated as they are at home, which doesn’t help). The saving grace of winter is that it does not rain to the extent it does in Manchester (thankfully), and the showers are generally avoidable. But one of my main packing regrets is leaving my warmest hoodie at home, even if it would have taken up a fair amount of space.

Another thing that this year has taught me is how many clothes I own vs what I actually wear. Thinking about everything that I didn’t pack that I have not missed and everything that I brought and haven’t touched has made me a lighter packer. My advice would be to go through what you are going to pack again and consider how recently you have worn it/ how regularly. Canberra has some great op-shops (Green Shed and Vinnies are a must-visit), so even if you are missing something, there are so many places to grab a top for $10 or less.

Summer is also a big packing consideration. The only accommodation that offers a summer contract is Yukeembruk, which is the most expensive. So chances are you will be doing at least some travelling around over the 3 months. I would say keep this in mind and think of some core skirts and tops that can go together in different ways. But also keep in mind that the summer shopping in Australia is pretty hard to resist, so there is plenty of time to grab any bits that your summer wardrobe may be missing.

A final note that saved me a lot of weight in my bag was that you don’t need to bring full sizes of every toiletry. Big W and Aldi have such cheap bits that there’s no need to waste the suitcase weight on things like bodywash or even a big body moisturiser. You are going to need to sort out a duvet, pillow, etc., when you get here anyway, so you may as well buy it all together with the rest of your basics.