What to Pack for a Trip to the South Island of New Zealand During Spring

Late Spring is my FAVOURITE time to travel New Zealand, particularly the central South Island which looks like a postcard with colourful bursts of wildflowers against snowy mountain backdrops. But I know many people struggle to know what to pack during this time of year because it’s one of the most common questions I get asked!

Overall, spring can be a turbulent season in NZ with late dumpings of snow in the South Island and muggy swells in the North. Therefore the most practical advice I can give is to prioritize outfits you can layer, and come prepared for a bit of everything.

Each year my girlfriends and I do a wildflower road trip through the central South Island around the first week of December (which is technically Summer) and here is what I pack…

Casual outfits for photographs and low effort exploring:

• Mid or Maxi length dresses 

• Leggings/tights to easily layer under dresses (and even pants) when it gets chilly in the mornings and evenings.

• Jumpers for easy layering

• Jacket

• A good mix of t-shirts and long sleeve tops

• A pair of pants/jeans

• Sneakers/boots 

Adventure outfits for hiking 

• Exercise leggings

• Exercise singlet and bra 

• Long sleeve merino top for layering if required 

• Hiking boots 

• Wind breaker (light raincoat)

• Jacket eg. puffer

Back up clothing for every scenario

• Beanie

• Hat

• Gloves 

• Scarf

• Singlets for under things if it gets chilly

• Togs aka swimsuit 

• Thicker coat if you’ve got the space for it

• Exercise shorts

Absolute musts in NZ

• SUNSCREEN!! The sun in New Zealand is incredibly strong and I can pretty much guarantee you will get sunburnt on a clear day. Leave your sunblock from home behind and purchase an SPF50 when you arrive here - even our sunblocks are formulated differently to handle the harshness of the sundown under.

• A sun hat and sunglasses for the same reason as above 

• Mosquito repellent/bug spray. Particularly if you’re visiting the West Coast of the South Island or around Milford Sound.

Final thoughts -

The earlier you are visiting during Spring the more likely you are to get cold snaps. If you’ve got the suitcase space then packing a thicker coat or puffer jacket is wise.

The middle of the day can really heat up during the end spring, so wear layers or pack a lighter outfit change in the car for while you’re out.

If you’re doing a lot of adventuring in our alpine areas like Mount Cook, it’s very important that you come prepared for anything. The weather can turn at the drop of a hat, so even though you might not feel like stuffing your puffer jacket into your backpack it’s the wisest choice!

All of the photos in this travel tip are from my South Island travels during our shoulder months if you’re looking for examples of what I have worn.