Down Under Travel

If you knew exactly what was going to happen on your vacation, you’d have no problem packing light, would you? You’d only take the clothes you knew you needed. The reason we all pack too much stuff is because we include a whole lot of things we might need.

So, that’s the first secret to packing light: understand where you’re going and what you’ll be doing, as far as you possibly can. Don’t just look at the names of the places you’ll be visiting and admire the photos – find out if there’s a detailed itinerary and study it. Google the weather at your destination. Don’t assume that just because you’re going to Sydney, it will automatically be hot.

What activities will you be undertaking? Knowing your activities, and how often you’ll do them, should help you decide your priorities. For instance:

• If you’re doing lots of long walks, you absolutely must have proper walking shoes. But if you’re mainly touring by coach or car in summer, it doesn’t make sense to pack a pair of heavy shoes and bulky socks for the sake of one or two walks. A pair of good walking sandals is a sensible compromise, and much easier to pack.

• If you’re on a casual holiday, you may pack one or two smart outfits “just in case” you have a nice dinner out one night. But if you’re going to be in big cities and you’ll have time for shopping, it may make more sense to leave the glad rags at home, and go out and buy a nice dress if and when you need it. The bonus is that dress then becomes a lovely memento of your trip.

• For travel to Australia in summer, pack more than one swimsuit and more than one sarong – you’ll be using them frequently! In winter, one swimsuit is enough – people sometimes forget the weather gets cool here, too!