jjsebba

Hi
I'm about a month away from the big, hairy, scary, mammoth flight to NZ.
Any suggestions of what to pack in my suitcase? Going to Palmy so it's likely to be quite chilly am/pm.

Thanks.

sparkie down under

you're going to Plamy - Bring entertainment

florabundi

Hi ~ We are flying out in a few weeks and I have trawled through the site as I remember a very useful thread ~ this is what's on my list
Picnic cups/plates/cutlery
Batteries for camera
Towels
Spare beach/shopping bags
Extension cable 4 gang
screw drivers
wire strippers
painkillers/travel sickness/regular meds
Tin opener
Bottle opener
Basic bedding or space dictating sleeping bags
It's scary all right ~ please add anything else you have thought of! Did anyone bring bedding? Maybe I'm being OTT, just don't want to have to buy more when ours is in the container.

xx

jjsebba

Hey Florabundi

It's so scary!
I didn't think of bedding. Not sure if I can fit much in, possibly a duvet cover and pillow cases but not the fillings!
Hmmm. Food for thought. Thanks for the list. I will definitely add to it as I go along. Are the screwdrivers and wire strippers for changing plugs?

florabundi

Yes ~ changing plugs will be a priority if only for hairdryer etc! I wondered about putting bedding in vacuum bags to save space but not sure if your luggage is searched how you would fit everyhting back in!!! We move out of our house on the 20th June, staying with family for a few weeks before flying out with the kids. Very exciting isn't it? Do you have a house sorted already? We are touring in a campervan first (Yes, in the middle of winter!) Good luck !

MrsFychan

if you have kids and the have a playstation/Wii bring that in hand luggage.
You can buy euro/NZ plug adaptors but they are expensive so yes tools to strip and change a plug.
Paracetamol/calpol.


Are you moving straight into Rental/house or are you staying in a hotel first? if staying in hotel first then you will have time to shop for bedding/kettles/water filters/toasters etc

jjsebba

We toured in winter and after that still decided to go and live there! You'll love the camper. We have one here and are gutted it's not really viable to take it with us. Have bought a beautiful poly cotton tent to keep us camping.

We don't have a house sorted yet. I have accommodation sorted by my employer for a few months so we don't have to panic rent which is nice.
There is lots available but it's just finding one you like.
I'm going on ahead to start my job and hubby and baby girl coming a month later so I will do a lot of running around first to try sort out as much as I can like sim cards, find out about Internet/land lines, utilities etc.
I use vacuum bags all the time but like your comment of never being able to repack if your bags were opened!!!
Our shipping goes in a month and hubby, baby and m-i-l will be living like squatters with nothing in the house. No fun at all. Not looking forward to wearing the same clothes for up to 3 months! Oh well. Call it a challenge!

jjsebba

Hair dryer? What's that? I dont have time for that!

Staying in 'lodgings' first so not sure what it will include re bedding etc. might take a duvet cover if I have space but not sure I will. Flying via LA so will have 10kgs extra luggage allowance. Whew!

Don't have wii/psp. Baby too small still.

sparkie down under

Ok ok, joking aside here - what the hell is that list about

I know I give Palmy some stick but come on - tin opener/bottle opener There are shops there you know

Personally I think you need to
A- bring money and just buy the sort of things mentioned above, (and load up your credit card before setting off, so you can spend)
B- bring stuff that will make you feel good/better/have some comfort value to help you transend the first month
C- personal entertainment, Books, DVD's etc
D- clothes
E- a bloody good sleeping bag (just incase)
and that's it.

You may be surprised but we do have batteries in NZ, as well as small hand tools. The cost of which would be equal to, (or less than), baggage costs, so why fill up your suitcase with stuff that you can get here.

Make Briscos, Bunnings, Harvey Normans/Noel Leming your first stops and you'll be right

love30stm

would not be without hairdryer even camping

you can buy most things in New Zealand its not that dead

jjsebba

Good common sense sparkle.
Just trying not to spend too much unneccessarily. I don't do credit cards.
It is a bit of a balancing act to take some things but realise one may have to buy a few others on the other side. We're leaving our kettle/iron/ironing board here as we have to still work for another month-5 weeks after our container has gone so will need a few basics to keep us going/looking respectable!

jjsebba

Love30stm, I could probably count the times I've used my hair dryer on 2 hands! Used it mostly to dry wee one's hair! Not sure why I own one. It was a gift! We're all different!

sparkie down under

OK - I'm off to work now, laughing all the way

The idea of Love30stm - camping

Sorry love30 - but I just can't see you under canvas

florabundi

Hey! Just don't want to have to spend again on stuff that is in the container already and I was a Venture Scout! Maybe should also pack canoe "Be Prepared"!! I will buy duvets when we get there as I'm not a fan of sleeping bags and just bring the duvet covers. You also must remember that I am a Scot from Aberdeen and being frugal is part of that Thank you Sparkie for making me laugh!

florabundi

Oh and there are the staightening irons ~ couldn't live without them