What to pack when moving to New Zealand

Kara Dillon – The University of Otago, New Zealand

With a reputation of being an over-packer, facing the challenge of packing my cases ready to embark on my journey to New Zealand, was not the easiest. However, now having lived here for a year, I have come to realise what was necessary to bring here… and what was not.

Firstly, with New Zealand being a country with endless opportunities to travel, hike and camp, I thought it was necessary to bring my 75 Litre rucksack, my sleeping bag and my sleeping mat. Despite having used these, they took up a lot of space and weight in my suitcases. Little did I know that the University of Otago have an outdoor rentals centre called ‘Unipol’ where you can rent out equipment like these for a reasonable price all year round! You can even rent out hiking boots. – which from personal experience, take up a LOT of space in your suitcase. So, unless you are particularly attached to your outdoor equipment, leave it at home and save some space in your suitcase for the endless souvenirs your bound to collect whilst you’re here.

In terms of clothes, you do need to pack for every possible weather event. Particularly down south here in Dunedin, you will experience all four seasons in one day. Even in summer, at night it can still get quite cold, especially if you’re outside camping. Therefore, prioritising bringing warm clothes is key. However, don’t forget there are shops here so if you forget anything or can’t quite fit everything in, you can always buy it when you arrive here.  

I also wished I never brought a towel with me, and I am even considering leaving it behind when I return home. Even though the University doesn’t provide towels, most of the time previous students who lived in your flat will have left towels behind and you can also pick one up cheap in stores like Kmart or The Warehouse. Bringing a microfibre towel may be a good alternative as it takes up less space and is perfect for any travelling you might do whilst you’re here.

I knew I was going to want to decorate my room here so bringing a few photos and posters to put up on the walls is always a good idea. They don’t take up much room and are a good way to minimise feeling homesick. However, I have collected so many posters and things whilst being here that even if you brought no room décor at all, you would soon find lots of ways to make your room feel more homely when you get here!

Ultimately, you need a lot less stuff than you think you need – trust me!