Australia is an insanely diverse country and if you’re traveling over various seasons and regions then it is important to be prepared. You could potentially come face to face with nearly any type of weather from snowy mountains to rainy jungles, or ideally sunny beaches! Follow this packing guide to prep for a successful backpacking trip to Australia.
Looking to travel Australia for a year or more? Learn how to do that with the Working Holiday Visa HERE!
And while you’re at it check out my Packing Guide for Longterm Travel too!
How to Pack Clothes
Australia is a massive country and with that vastness comes a crazy amount of climate diversity. You can easily follow the good weather by being in the south during the summer and in the north in the winter, but cooler weather or rain can always catch you by surprise. Here are my tips and packing list for clothing down under!
Catch some of my advice for following the good weather in my Ultimate East Coast Itinerary HERE
Tip #1: Summer Clothes! Especially if you are following the good weather, you will want the majority of your clothes to be fit for heat, sun, and beaches! Australia has some of the most incredible beaches in the world and nearly anywhere you stay will have a pool as well, so bring those tank tops, shorts, and swimmers!
Tip #2: Become a hat person. The sun is so strong in Australia, so if you aren’t a hat person now, I recommend you become one. Hats are a great way to keep the sun out of your face and protect you from burning. Whether a cap or a bucket hat, you should definitely pack yourself some options for the sake of sun safety!
Tip #3: Bring going out clothes. I normally support sticking with basics BUT bring a couple standout tops or dresses that you can wear on a night out in Australia. The nightlife is not too intense and people do not usually judge what you decide to wear, but it always good to have something to wear for heading to the clubs. Also, Australia is well known for its festivals and bush doofs where people tend to dress pretty extravagantly!
Your Australian Closet
This list is what I recommend packing for a backpacking trip to Australia, assuming you are going to experience a variety of climates and regions. Of course you may need more or less depending on your length of stay or if you know you are going to be in say, Tasmania for winter. Here’s a good starter pack for you:
Bottoms:
- 1 Basic Jeans – I recommend non-ripped in case you decide to work but you can always buy specific items for a work uniform
- 1 Sweatpants
- 1 Beach Trousers – even better if they double as clubbing trousers!
- 1 Going Out Trousers
- 3 Beach Shorts
- 1 Athletic Shorts
- 1 Jean Shorts
- 1 Sleep Shorts
Tops:
- 7-10 Summer Tops – these are easy to pack lots of since they tend to be small
- 1 Sleep Shirt
- 2 Going Out Tops
- 2 Dresses – make sure they are fitting for a variety of events!
- 1-2 Hoodies – I recommend zip-up for more weather variety
- 1 Raincoat
Underwear:
- 15 Underwear – enough to do laundry every 2 weeks
- 1 Sports Bra
- 1 Bra
- 6 Socks – some should go above your ankle for when you go hiking, this protects you a bit more from potential snake encounters
Shoes:
- 1 Tennis Shoes
- 1 Hiking Shoes
- 1 Sandals – make sure they are fitting for a variety of events!
Other:
- 1 Hat
- 4 Swimsuits – you could go with less, but I like having options, especially when it’s what I wear most often
How to Pack Other Necessities
You honestly won’t realize what you need in Australia until you’re there. Thankfully, you’ve found this blog and you won’t be caught off guard with anything! Here are some gadgets that came in handy while traveling down under:
- Microfiber Towel – these dry so fast and are easy to pack
- Sand Resistant Towel – you will spend lots of days at the beach and it is not fun using the same sand-covered towel to shower later on. I recommend these Teema Towels or something similar!
- Tote Bag or Day Bag – great for beach days, grocery shopping, or just being prepared for a day out. You can also use these if you’re traveling by bus and want a snack/entertainment bag!
- Type I Charging Block
- Fly Net – if you’re hiking or heading into the outback, get a fly net! These slip over your hat and head to keep all the pests from buzzing in your face. A lifesaver if you dislike bugs! Check out this one on Amazon
- Waterbottle
- Sun Screen – If you’re checking a bag and sunscreen is cheap where you live, then bring your own sunscreen! Since it is such a necessity in Aus, shops make it pretty expensive over there.
- Go Pro or Waterproof Phone Holder – with so many water activities, especially around the Great Barrier Reef, you will want a method of capturing these insane experiences.
- Laundry Bag – makes doing laundry in different places so much easier since you have something to carry it all in
- Portable Charger
- Packing Cubes – these keep me so organized when having to pack and repack every few days
How to Pack Toiletries
Australia has plenty of shops for purchasing any toiletries so no need to stress too much if you forget anything. Here are some of my dos and don’ts for packing toiletries for Australia:
- Toothpaste, deodorant, and soap can be found everywhere, as can painkillers. Neurofen is my headache medicine of choice 🙂
- Do not pack mini scissors (the ones for eyebrows or nails) because some airport securities do not allow them. Avoid spray deodorant for the same reason.
- It may not last your entire trip, but bring some of your own sunscreen to start out because sunscreen can be very expensive
- I hardly ever wear makeup but if you’re a makeup wearer, invest in makeup removing wipes
- Tampons are widely available, however, ones with plastic applicators are not always. Australia mainly sells tampons without applicators or with cardboard applicators so that may be something to get used to if you are not already.
Random Advice
Say goodbye to your favorite brand of deodorant or your home grocery store. Traveling longterm means you will run out of shampoo, toothpaste, medication, etc. so it is important to let go of your sentimental Target or Dove branded favorites.
You are going to gain things. If you’re working abroad, you’re going to have work uniforms or promo items you don’t want to throw away. You’re going to be at a market and fall in love with some pants, bracelet, or keychain. This is obviously okay but be sure to have room in your backpack for all these new items!
Be sure to find what works best for you when dealing with important documents. For example, I have a single pouch that holds any visa, prescription, or identification information I need. Some might recommend not having them all in one place, however, I keep my organizer in a locked pocket of my backpack and it works for me.
Packing for Australia can be overwhelming when you don’t have a set plan. Be prepared for any kind of weather, arrive with both hiking and going out clothes, find a hat you like and you will be successful while backpacking in Australia!
Sylvia's Gap Year 