What to pack · New Zealand

The golden rule for NZ: all four seasons can happen in a single day. Wellington is sunny in the morning, squalling by lunch, back to blue sky by dinner. Auckland can greet you with +24 while Queenstown sits at +6 the same day. Pack in layers. It’s the single most repeated piece of advice from everyone who has been.

Hikers with backpacks on a mountain trail — Take a rain shell and a warm layer on any day hike — even under a cloudless sky · Photo: Unsplash

The non-negotiable base — whatever the season

Rain shell on a serious membrane (Gore-Tex / eVent). Not a film poncho.
Comfortable boots: hiking shoes with real tread. Fine for cities too — sneakers will soak through in the first rain.
A light down jacket or fleece — even in January. Mount Cook evenings sit at +5 in any month.
SPF 50+ — the UV here is vicious. Bring your own; the local stuff costs as much as dinner.
Polarised sunglasses — the snow, water and sky are seriously bright here.
A cap or sun hat — the sun is stronger than it feels.
A universal adapter for type I sockets (as in Australia) — flat angled pins.
A reusable bottle — tap water is drinkable almost everywhere; no point burning through bottled water.

Season-dependent

☀️Summer: Dec–Feb

Shorts, light tees, swimwear for the hot lakes and beaches. But always add a warm layer for the evening and a waterproof jacket in the daypack. In the south of the South Island, even February mornings can be +8.

🍂Autumn: Mar–May

A jumper, a light down jacket, a beanie. A wonderful time for trekking — the weather is steadier than in summer. April in Arrowtown is as orange as the pictures.

❄️Winter: Jun–Aug

A proper winter jacket, hat, gloves and thermals — if you’re heading into the mountains. In the north of NZ (Auckland) it’s rain rather than frost: +12 and damp. No snow in the cities.

🌸Spring: Sep–Nov

The trickiest season for unpredictability. The same kit as autumn, plus readiness for 5 kinds of weather in a day. In return everything is in bloom, flights are cheaper, and there are no crowds.

If trekking is on the plan

A 30–45 L pack for day walks (Hooker Valley, Tongariro, Roys Peak).
A 1.5–2 L bottle — Tongariro can mean 7 hours with no water on the route.
Half a day’s snacks — you won’t buy anything on the trail. Nuts, energy bars, sandwiches in a plastic box.
Trekking poles make Roys Peak and Hooker Valley far easier.
A headlamp — the Mackenzie sunset in winter lands at 5:30 pm.
Sandfly repellent — the South Island midges genuinely bite. Aerogard or Bushman 80%.

What NOT to bring

Any food of plant origin — biosecurity at the border is serious. One nut in a pocket → a $400 fine.
Dirty boots or camping gear from previous countries — you’ll be asked to wash them right at the airport, or they’ll be confiscated.
An umbrella — useless against the wind; a rain shell is more practical.
Slow-drying jeans for trekking — once wet, they stand stiff for 12 hours.
A big suitcase, if a campervan is in the plan — there’s nowhere to put it.

Documents

Most nationalities need an NZeTA (an electronic authorisation, done online in an hour, valid 2 years, ~$23) plus the IVL tourist levy ($35). A Russian passport means a standard visitor visa, arranged in advance through VFS Global.

Don’t forget: an international driving permit (if you plan to rent), insurance with evacuation cover (a minimum of $50k is recommended), and a printout of your first hotel booking — you may be asked for it on arrival.