Things To Bring

Hi, peeps! Yes, I'm here to share with you what you should/need to bring along with you before the journey begins. Most of the information that you got from google or blog or social media on how to apply for a working holidays visa, things to prepare before apply, where to apply and so on. As nowadays, Working Holidays has brought a really huge impact to the youngster especially when the travel post is overly shared among the social media platform and some of them through word of mouth from the friends and family. I can guarantee that whoever know this, will definitely go for it. Alright, let's cut short the craps and straight to the points. (Of course passport, Working Holidays visa Air Ticket and NZD2250 is the most important one).

Things to bring:

• Bring your own hairdryer

If you are the girls like me that have to dry the hair immediately after shower then you should bring your own hairdryer. According to my own experience, the weather here is not like Malaysia hot for the whole year. I found that when I left my hair dry naturally it took longer time and not completely dry out. Besides that, most of the backpacker house may not provide and you can't borrow from the travel mate all the time (unless you guys moving together) at the end you will still need to buy from the warehouse.

• Bring your own sanitary napkins

Again girl stuff, if you have a choice please bring some (or maybe more) from your home country. How much you should bring? Bring as much as you can or the portion for 3 months. Else, you will regret like me for not bringing more. The sanitary napkins over here in NZ is so expensive compared to Malaysia. When you have settled down here before getting a job, better save up some money.

• Bring MILO

This is for the MILO lover, if you are not you may skip to the next point! Cheers! Yay! Shout out loud for those from Malaysia. Bring your own MILO if you love it. MILO in NZ is really expensive and the taste is different from what we use to drink. Most of the friends I met during my journey was telling me that MILO from Malaysia was the best, cheapest and nice. I use to get the parents bring me MILO when they travel to NZ and even share with my housemate from Malaysia and Hong Kong.

• Bring your own skin care/sleeping mask

If I may suggest, better to bring your own skin care with you. Do not bring too much like for a years portion. The weather here was really dry and you really need lotion/moisturizer to moist up skin. Basically, all you need was a cleanser, toner, moisturizer. If you really need mask I suggest you get those sleeping mask instead of those mask in pieces. I not sure whether you can get back your use brand over here in NZ, even yes the price is higher. According to my own experience, skin care really cost me a lot here and I could not get the brand that I want to. Trying up others brand is not a good idea for people with sensitive skin like me.

• Bring your own thermal water bottle

Because the weather here is quite cold so I think you may need this. If you choose to buy here is fine, but the price doesn't worth if you convert back to RM (Malaysian use to convert the currency). A thermal bottle here I can find the cheapest was $10-$20 which is roughly RM30-RM60 of course with limited colours, limited choices, limited quality and the design that don't feed your taste.

• bring at least 2 pairs of shoes

Bring at least 2 pairs of sneaker/sports shoes and a pair of slipper/sandal. If you do not want to spend extra on shoes you can bring at least 2 pairs. When you travel around or working you may dirty your shoes or spoil your shoes, so you have another pair for back up. The weather here is cold, if you have wet your shoes, took a long time to dry it and not all the shoes can put into dryer machine, so just to avoid any trouble that causes money spend. Well, prepare everything before your wallets get hurt.

• Bring your own laptop (not compulsory)

I will suggest you bring your own laptop with you (if you have one). Because sometimes you will really need your laptop for job hunting and photos transfer or to keep your document in soft copy. I agree that laptop is not replaceable by tablet mobile. You will find it is easier when you do everything with you laptop compare to your mobile phone or tablet. If you ask whether or not to bring a laptop with you, my answer is always a YES.

• Bring your own First-Aid Kit

Just joking guys! Don't bring the huge first Aid kit from your office. For me, I don't bring any medicine with me seriously. Because the pharmacy can't be found around the town. But just in case you have medicine allergy or you need some special medicine then better bring your own. The normal one like Panadol, plaster, allergy cream and etc.

• Bring your own nail cutter, pimple stick, ear stick, eyebrows click

If you have a habit of digging your ear you should bring your ear stick because there is nowhere to be found, they have only the cotton bud. So, if you need it then better bring it with you. Nail cutter, pimple stick, and eyebrows click is selling here, but the price is triple the price that you can get from your own country. Save up the money to travel is better than spend on stuff that you can actually get for a cheaper price.

• Bring your own contact lenses (bring more pairs with you)

If you are used to wearing contact lenses like me, you probably need to bring more pairs with you. So far I didn't see any optic shop selling contact lenses even optic shop is so limited here. I bring at least 3 pairs with me just in case anything happened and I lost my contact lens and there is still some backup. I bring along my own spectacular too. Do not expect too much from New Zealand, here is not what you expect that you can buy everything you want here. I thought the same and I am wrong =(

• Bring your own sunglasses

The sun here in New Zealand is killing. You need a sunblock for sure to protect your skin. you need sunglass to protect your eyes too! I suggest bringing your own one because if you buy it here definitely will cost you a lot. Besides, I have compared the price between Malaysia and New Zealand. Seriously the same things but higher price totally no point right. So bring your own sunglasses and rock the journey!

• Do not bring too many clothes (bring heat-tech)

Yes! you may bring some T-shirt and long pants/Jeans. Don't bring too much beautiful, fashionable or sleeveless clothes because you may not have the chance to wear it. (Mainly for people who afraid of cold). If you are here for Spring, Summer and Autumn just bring one jacket/hoodie will do. If you are here for Winter, then you can bring Heatech clothes from UNIQLO. You can have both heat-tech for shirt and pant, suggested to bring 2 pieces of each. Do not bring your thick and bulky winter wear. This may be occupied a lot of your luggage and it's tired to carry around. Clothes you can get it here at a cheaper price like $3 per T-shirt.

• Do not bring jewellery/watches

The reason why was because you have no time to put it on. Most of the time you will wear hoodie or jacket which fully cover your jewellery. Besides that, most of the seasonal jobs here need you to take off all the accessory. Such as earring, rings, necklace and etc. You work in a fruits pack house or food producer industry like McCain or Watties all of them are same. No jewellery allow.

All the above was based on my own experience. It may not apply to you. But take as a reference so that you won't bring too much unnecessary stuff with you. When I come to NZ I only bring a small size luggage, hand carries a shoulder bag and a back bag. My luggage weight only 25 KG and share with a friend, which means each of us have only 12.5KG. Yes, you can see in the picture. That all I bring. No joke! That all for my sharing part, anything that you would like to bring but not sure you can ask me. I may not be the professional but I can still give a little bit advice. Happy journey guys! Travel safe!

xoxo