7 Ways to Get Rid of Your Excess Luggage Before You Leave New Zealand

What to Do with All Your Extra Stuff?!

It’s hard to leave New Zealand with less than what you arrived with! So much stuff makes it way into your backpack when travelling New Zealand, whether it’s memories like a bunch of volcanic rocks taken from Mt Doom or souvenirs for your family. But don’t let things go to waste by simply throwing clothes or any other unwanted items in the trash! After all, we want to keep New Zealand clean. There are a number of easy ways to get your baggage under the airline weight limit. So what are these ways to get rid of your excess luggage?

1. Buy Your Souvenirs From Shops with Free International Shipping

You have to show your family and friends that you haven’t forgotten about them in some way. And the internationally recognised way of doing this is souvenirs! We’ve given you your gift ideas, now you just have to get them home. Ask at the souvenir shop whether they offer international shipping. Then just meet your gifts when you arrive home.

2. Donate Your Unwanted Clothes to the Poor (i.e. Fellow Backpackers)

It is likely that you have received some hand-me-downs from your travel buddies as they have left the country or were simply sick of the sight of the same clothes day-in-day-out. Now it is your turn! Your fellow backpackers will love you forever if you give them another T-shirt to look at.

3. Sell Your Stuff

If you are looking to make a quick buck, having a mini garage sale with your backpacking mates or selling your stuff on backpacker Facebook groups and TradeMe is another option to make the most of the stuff you are leaving behind.

4. Buy Your Souvenirs at the Airport

Your worries over fitting everything in your backpack are all gone once your luggage is checked in. So once you are unleashed into the New Zealand duty-free stores in the airport, go wild! Buy your souvenirs for home here then take them into the cabin with you.

5. Donate to Charity Shops and Op Shops

The Salvation Army is always looking for donations to sell and raise money to reduce poverty in New Zealand. Alternatively, there are heaps of locally-run op shops in New Zealand selling second-hand clothes.

6. Mail Your Stuff Back Home

Some stuff you just can’t part with! It’s a fact of life. Sending a 1-2.5kg parcel back home can be pretty affordable, so check out our guide to Sending Mail Overseas From New Zealand.

7. Shipping by Sea

Although this shipping literally takes months, it is considerably cheaper than airmail. So if you picked up some larger items, like a surfboard or skis, consider shipping them across the ocean.

More About Leaving New Zealand

Author

Robin C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before calling New Zealand home. He has now spent over a decade in the New Zealand tourism industry, clocking in more than 600 activities across the country. He is passionate about sharing those experiences and advice on NZ Pocket Guide and its YouTube channel. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides.

Contact Robin via our contact page