In this blog post I share with you exactly what I would recommend packing if you are going to travel or move to Australia.
My name is Dain, I moved to Australia from the UK nearly 2 years ago on a Working Holiday Visa. I share my adventures online as well as giving you all the top tips for taking the leap and moving down under!
It can be extremely daunting to move to a new country, but rest assured this is going to be an exciting adventure that you won't forget. Hopefully through my content I can help you be a more confident traveller. I have been fortunate to have travelled to 43 countries over the last few years which makes me a tiny bit qualified to talk about packing. I will cover everything from tech to clothing to toiletries.
Lets get straight into it!
Please note: This post includes affiliate links. If you purchase a product through these links I may get a commission at no extra cost to you.
LUGGAGE CHOICES
Firstly you can't go anywhere without luggage.
What type of luggage you decide to take will all depend on these things:
How long are you going for?
Are you visiting other countries first?
Are you staying here long term of just a short trip?
If you are just travelling Australia I feel that a suitcase is a better option. If you are going to be travelling South East Asia or Latin America after/before, consider bringing a backpack. I go into more detail below on the advantages and disadvantages of each.
My suitcase of choice is this TRIPP 63 litre hard shell suitcase. (above)
My backpack of choice is the Kelty redwing 50 litre I have used this for the last 4 years and LOVE IT.
Heres a few things to consider when deciding to bring a backpack or suitcase.
BACKPACK
Advantages
Hands free: Having a backpack will give you free hands to hold your passport/phone/other items.
A backpack will take up less space if you are staying in hostels.
If your bag is 40 litres or less you can bring this as a carry on, thus saving on travel costs.
If you are visiting Asia or Latin America before/after your Australia trip, backpacks are a great option as the terrain is more uneven.
Backpacks are better at evenly distributing the weight of your bag as they have adjustable hip and shoulder straps.
Disadvantages
There is greater risk of injury when carrying a backpack. This may be due to how heavy your bag is, it can put a lot of strain on your shoulders/back.
Most travellers have a day bag which sits on their front. Having two bags may overwhelm you if you are moving around every few days in the heat.
Backpacks are more difficult to pack/unpack, which make travel days more stressful.
As backpacks are made from softer material they offer little to no protection to your belongings inside.
SUITCASE
Advantages
Organisation is more simple. Most suitcases have two sections. I usually put my clothes in one side and everything else in the other.
Less back pain as most suitcases have at least 2 or 4 wheels.
Australia is a 1st world country with great infrastructure. If you are wheeling your case around you won't have any issues.
Suitcases are a lot easier to pack and unpack, this makes travel days less stressful.
If opting for a hard shell case these are more durable and will give your belongings greater protection.
Most newer suitcases have a TSA lock on the side, this decreases the chance of strangers breaking in to your bag.
Disadvantages
Suitcases are not practical on public transport and especially negotiating stairs.
You will always need to check in your suitcase if it's any bigger than cabin size, this means additional travel expenses.
You can only carry what fits inside the case. With a backpack you can strap on extra items such as a pillow/trainers.
Suitcases are generally more bulkier than backpacks so will stick out in public spaces and hostels.
One thing to consider with both options is how much you are going to pack. With both a suitcase and backpack there is a risk of overpacking. If you buy a 70 litre suitcase or backpack, chances are you are going to fill it regardless.
Take some time to really think about what items you need to bring as it can be expensive to send items home. You should also consider that anywhere you go around the world you will be able to buy most products so don't worry too much about bringing your dog and the kitchen sink!
Picture: my travel set up of choice is my Wandrd Prvke 31L day back + my 63L medium size TRIPP suitcase.
PACKING CUBES
Packing cubes are my ESSENTIAL for any trip. I find they keep my stuff organised and in turn that prevents me from losing it. If you are looking for the perfect packing cubes I always use compressible packing cubes they are a game changer for any traveller!
TECH ESSENTIALS
INIU Power bank - This item is an essential for creating content as it allows me to charge my phone, drone and camera batteries for about a week.
Newseego hard drive sleeve - This is a great item for content creators/digital nomads.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
When planning any major trip you need to make sure you budget for travel insurance. Part of being a traveller is living a more unpredictable life which unfortunately carries risk.
There are lots of travel insurers out there to cover you for your big adventure. I have personally tried and tested SafetyWing for the last 2 years and can say with confidence they are the best on the market for long term travellers. For as little as $1.60 per day you can have peace of mind that you are protected should anything unexpected happen.
CAMERA SET UP
All videos edited on a Macbook Pro 2019 + Final Cut Pro
CLOTHING
This section of the packing guide will look different for everyone. I can't speak for females but hopefully you can get a jist of what clothing you may want to bring from my below clothing list.
My biggest rule of travel packing is:
PACK FOR 1 WEEK.
Its that simple!
Long term travel is different to going on a holiday. With long term travel you will typically do laundry once per week as its not viable to carry a months worth of clothes around Australia with you. I also guarantee you will pick things up on your travels so the less you pack the better it will be for you in the long run!
This is a suggested clothing packing list:
7 pairs of socks
7 pairs of pants
2 pairs of shorts
2 x swimmers/bikini
7 tops
1 x gym/exercise outfit.
1 x light jacket
1 x jeans/trousers
1 x jumper
1 x sandals
1 x trainers
1 x trail/workout trainers
1 nice shirt
1 x pyjamas
1 x cap
1 x sunglasses
1 x tote bag (great for carry food shopping)
1 x sleeping mask + ear plugs
1 x beach towel + 1 x wash towel
Heres my 2 cents on towels...
Quick dry towels have been around for centuries... ok maybe not that long but ever since I started backpacking I have seen the classic "backpacker towel". A thin microfibre towel that ends up smelling bad after 1 use. Avoid these like the plague!!
I have tried and tested many a towel and these are the ones I love to travel with.
My go to beach towel is this Turkish cotton, sand resistant, quick dry towel. It is an Australian brand so potentially buy one in Australia or find a similar one in the UK/Europe.
For body washing I would recommend finding a quick dry cotton or polyester towel. If you are moving here and will be in one place for a long period of time just buy a nice home towel when you arrive.
OTHER ITEMS
Reusable water bottle
Passport
Drivers license
Phone charger
Bumbag
Journal
Film camera
Your favourite Tea/coffee
Padlock - This is to lock up your valuables in the hostel security lockers.
Bank card + space credit/debit card.
Being a non Australia citizen there may be times when you need to send money back from your Australian bank account to your non Australia bank account or vice versa. The most affordable way to do this is by opening up a WISE account.
With a WISE card you can open up a bank account in 50 different currencies. WISE uses live currency exchange rates giving you the best deal when sending money. You can also order a WISE card before you travel and use this as a your Australian bank card. Its simple, easy and safe to send money using this service. If you transfer money through your own bank it is likely to cost you even more!
Picture: example of the rates you get with
WISE.
TOILETRIES
Suncream 50 SPF +
Shower gel
Shampoo/conditioner
razor/beard trimmer
Face cream
Deodrant
Toothbrush/charger
Toothpaste/floss
Coconut oil - My top secret travel hack. After spending a day in the sun soak in oil to prevent any burns/dry skin.
Nail clippers
Condoms
Contact lenses/solution
Prescription medication
*Every traveller will have different toiletries but this covers the main ones.
Now I think we have covered all the bases of packing essentials for your big trip to Australia!
If you would like further information, advice or inspiration please considering heading over to my YouTube channel where I delve into these topics in more detail.
Best of Luck with your move!
Dain