Scott Webb on Unsplash© Scott Webb on Unsplash
Scott Webb on Unsplash

What to Pack in Your Carry-On for New Zealand

© Scott Webb on Unsplash

Packing List: Your Carry-on for New Zealand

Immigration, comfort, entertainment, airlines and length of your flight: these all determine what to pack in your carry-on for New Zealand. To make sure you have thought of everything, we have put together this guide of what to pack in your carry-on for a flight to New Zealand!

Make sure that the airline accepts the size of your carry-on luggage by checking your airline’s specific dimension requirements. Because backpacking is all about making the most out of everything, you will also want to choose the right carry-on luggage that you will be able to use throughout your backpacking trip in New Zealand.

For a full packing list including your check-in luggage, be sure to check out New Zealand Packing List: What to Pack for New Zealand and What to Pack for a Gap Year in New Zealand: Pre-departure Checklist.

What Not to Pack in Your Carry-on

Due to airline restrictions, these are some items you should not pack in your carry-on:

  • Sharp objects
  • Sporting goods from bats to ski poles
  • More than one box of matches or lighters
  • Firearms or weapons (including replicas)
  • Flammable, explosive, corrosive or toxic items
  • Liquid oxygen systems
  • Disabling devices containing an irritant or incapacitating substance (like pepper spray)
  • Electric shock weapons
  • Aerosols that are not medicinal or toiletry items
  • Security type equipment – such as attach cases, cash boxes and cash bags
  • Hoverboard, Mini-Segway, solo wheel, air wheel, balance wheel, Lithium powered skateboard or Personal transportation devices
  • lithium batteries with ratings more than 160Wh or 8g lithium content
  • Samsung Note 7.

What to Pack in Your Carry-On for New Zealand© NZPocketGuide.com

What Type of Carry-on Bag Should You Take to New Zealand?

First things first, you need to choose a carry-on bag that you are likely to utilise while you are backpacking in New Zealand. We recommend bringing a small to medium-sized backpack to use as your carry-on luggage, as well as a day pack for when you are out and about in New Zealand. We like the Little America and Retreat Backpack designs by Herschel Supply Co. See The Best Eco-Friendly Backpacks for New Zealand for a complete review.

The Size of Your Carry-on Bag

Your backpack should be able to fit all the items that we suggest below. It should also be able to fit a couple of layers of clothing when you are using it as a day pack, as well as items like a water bottle, food container, phone, wallet, etc.

On top of making sure your carry-on bag is a decent size for what you want to fit inside it, it also needs to adhere to the carry-on luggage dimensions of the airlines you are using to travel to and from New Zealand and even domestic flights in New Zealand, which you might end up using.

Carry-on Luggage Size and Weight: Airline Restrictions

Here are the most popular airlines that have international flights to New Zealand along with their carry-on luggage size and weight restrictions

  • Air New Zealand – Dimensions: 118cm linear (46.5″ linear), Weight: 7kg (15lbs)
  • Air Asia – Dimension: 55cm x 35cm x 22cm (22″ x 14″ x 9″), Weight: 7kg (15lbs)
  • Cathay Pacific – Dimensions: 56cm x 35cm x 22 cm (22″ x 14″ x 9″), Weight: 7kg (15lbs)
  • Fiji Airways – Dimensions: 54cm x 39cm x 22cm (21.6″ x 15.7″ x 9″) inches, Weight: 7kg (15lbs)
  • Jetstar – Dimensions: 55cm x 35cm x 22cm (22″ x 14″ x 9″), Weight: 7kg (15lbs)
  • Qantas – Dimensions: 55cm x 35cm x 22cm (22″ x 14″ x 9″), Weight: 7kg (15lbs)
  • Singapore Airlines – Dimensions: 115cm linear (45.2″ linear), Weight: 7kg (15lbs)
  • Virgin Australia – Dimensions: 48cm x 33cm x 22cm (18.9″ x 13.3″ x 9″), Weight: 7kg (15lbs).

Pexels© Pexels

Travel Documents to Pack in Your Carry-on for New Zealand

Don’t forget your passport! Ok, we didn’t really think you would forget your passport, but if you are travelling to New Zealand on a working holiday visa (or any visa for that matter) there are a few extra documents you should have prepared for when you arrive in New Zealand.

Visa Paperwork

Because most visitor visas and working holiday visas are electronic, it’s likely that you will prepare all this paperwork and not need it when you arrive in New Zealand. However, things can go wrong and technology isn’t always reliable so we recommend having a few print-outs of your visa documents in case you are asked for them at the immigration desk. Print out and pack a copy of the following:

  • Your working holiday visa, if applicable. (See where to find it in What Does a Working Holiday Visa Look Like?)
  • A bank statement to show you have sufficient funds for the duration of your stay (usually more than NZ$1,000 per month of stay for visitors and NZ$4,200 for working holidaymakers staying a year)
  • A return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one (approx NZ$1,000 extra available)
  • Your travel insurance policy certificate.

Passport and Flight Ticket

It’s a no-brainer, but just in case, don’t forget your passport AND your flight ticket. Oh yeah, you should probably make sure that your passport is valid beyond the amount of time you plan to stay in New Zealand. You don’t want it expiring while you are in New Zealand.

Another form of ID

Finally, it’s handy to have another form of photographic ID other than your passport with you in your carry-on, just in case. And remember that there are only three valid forms of ID you can use in New Zealand to purchase alcohol, so you may want to bring some ID so that you can apply for an 18+ Card. Plus, your English-written driver license if you want to drive while you are in New Zealand. If your driving license is not in English you will need to get an International Driving Permit (IDP).

Cash

As well as your preferred method of payment for your own country before you jet off to New Zealand, you will need some New Zealand dollars in cash for when you arrive in New Zealand. Have enough cash for the first two weeks of your stay, just in case you have issues opening your New Zealand bank account or accessing your money from New Zealand.

Jack Kennard© Jack Kennard

What Toiletries to Pack in Your Carry-on

This is always a complicated one with airlines. All airlines have restrictions of how much liquids, gels, aerosols and pastes you can pack into your carry-on. But this doesn’t mean you have to go without.

In your carry-on, all liquids, gels, aerosols and pastes must be in individual containers no larger than 100ml (3.3oz) in volume. All containers must then be packed into a transparent re-sealable bag no larger than 1 litre (that’s about 20cm x 20cm or 8″ x 8″).

Because of these restrictions, it’s best to just pack the toiletries that you are going to need during the time you don’t have access to your check-in luggage. This might include:

  • Travel-size toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Make-up (if preferred)
  • Wipes (to freshen up)
  • Any medication you may need for your flight

Remember, you can pack your normal toiletries in your check-in luggage. It’s just your carry-on luggage which has restrictions.

Pexels© Pexels

What Else to Pack in Your Carry-on for New Zealand

Entertainment

Because New Zealand is far away from anywhere, the flights and stopovers can be pretty tedious. To make it through take some form of entertainment or work with you to keep yourself busy and make the time seem like it’s passing quicker. You don’t need to go too crazy with the entertainment though, keeping in mind that most long-haul airlines have seats with their own individual entertainment units. Plus, you don’t want to go over the weight limit. For inspiration on what to take, check out How to Prepare for a Long Haul Flight.

Remember, for any electronic items you bring, you will want to bring the appropriate charger as well as the adapter for the countries you are visiting along the way.

Clothes

There are many reasons why you should pack a couple of spare clothes in your carry-on, from the off-chance that your luggage is lost and you’re stuck with only your carry-on for a couple of days to the changing climates. Plus, you might want some extra layers for inside the plane cabin, which tend to have the air conditioning cranked up.

Comfort

Although most long-haul airlines provide pillows and blankets, nothing beats a travel pillow. So if you want this extra comfort and some chance of getting some sleep and beating the jet lag then pack yourself an inflatable travel pillow or one that clips onto the outside of your carry-on.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Robin C.

This article has been reviewed and approved by Robin, who is the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. With more than 15 years of experience in the New Zealand tourism industry, Robin has co-founded three influential tourism businesses and five additional travel guides for South Pacific nations. He is an expert in New Zealand travel and has tested over 600 activities and 300+ accommodations across the country.

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