What to take to New Zealand

Essentially, you need to cover outfits for the following occasions:

• for a plane, bus or car journey in New Zealand
• for a job interview
• for a hiking trip
• far a city tour

Wearing some loose fitting clothes, while squished on a bus or an economy seat, might be more comfortable than in skinny jeans and a corset… Try sweatpants, shorts or leggings with a cosy t-shirt and hoody. Remember that most planes are air conditioned and get a little cold.

First impressions go a long way in job interviews. Even when handing out a CV or first presenting yourself to a potential employer, you want to make an impression.

Think about what the employees wear in that specific company. Take hospitality, for example, workers usually wear smart black and white clothes. Or if you are working as a receptionist or high-end retail assistant, try the classic pencil skirt/black trousers and shirt combo.

If in doubt, your outfit should be somewhere between smart casual and smart.

Wear thermals. You don’t feel the weather change more than when you are on a hiking trip all day or several days. One minute it can be sunshine, when the next it can be pouring down with rain and you’re freezing your ass off. Thermals as base layers are designed to keep you toasty when cold yet allow you to cool off when warm. Remember a waterproof coat and an extra warm layer and light layer. Avoid cotton – it does nothing for you.

On your bottom half, try light-weight pants that are fast drying. Or shorts with exercise leggings so you can whip off the leggings if it gets too hot. Wear some sturdy walking sneakers or boots.

The weather can change just as often in a city than on the mountains. The wind in Wellington blows all kinds of elements through the city, and Auckland has a lot of spontaneous rainfall. If you are out all day in the city, take an extra layer with you, such as a raincoat or a hoody.